Holographic polymer nanocomposites with ordered structures and improved electro-optical performance by doping POSS

Abstract

Holographic polymer nanocomposites containing the liquid crystal (LC) have garnered a great deal of attention primarily because of their unique electric-switchable optical properties. Herein, three types of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) are doped into the holographic polymer nanocomposites to tune their ordered structure and electro-optical performance. These POSS dopants are methacryl POSS with eight reactive double bonds, methacrylisobutyl POSS with one reactive double bond, and aminopropylisobutyl POSS with nonreactive groups. Interestingly, methacryl POSS is primarily chemically bonded to the polymer network within the constructive regions, which deteriorates the diffraction efficiency and electro-optical performance due to the depressed ordered structures. In contrast, methacrylisobutyl POSS displays a negligible effect on the diffraction efficiency and electro-optical performance while significantly improving the thermostability of holographic polymer nanocomposites, although it is also chemically linked to the polymer network within the constructive regions. Distinctively, aminopropylisobutyl POSS mainly locates in the destructive regions and clearly improves the electro-optical performance and thermostability of holographic polymer nanocomposites.