Mechanism of scattering bistable light valves based on salt-doped cholesteric liquid crystals

Abstract

Bistable technology has played a vital role in the development of optical elements. Bistable technology enables zero power consumption unless the optical state needs to be changed. Salt-doped cholesteric liquid crystals (SDCLCs) have been implemented as light valves. However, the orientation mechanism of SDCLCs under different operating conditions has not been elucidated in detail. Herein, the disturbance and relaxation of SDCLCs were comprehensively investigated based on the interactions between the electrohydrodynamic and dielectric effects under different voltages, frequencies, and cell gaps. By controlling the balance between the electrohydrodynamic and dielectric effects, the bistable optical performance of SDCLC devices can be optimized for practical applications.