Abstract
The formation and characterization of a switchable volume reflective element fabricated from a polymer liquid crystal (LC) polymer slice (POLICRYPS) structure by holographic photopolymerization at high temperature (65 °C) using a photosensitive/nematic liquid crystal prepolymer mixture is reported. The submicron Bragg structure formed consists of periodic continuous polymeric walls separated by periodic LC channels. The phase separated NLC self-aligns in a homeotropic alignment between the polymer walls as indicated by polarizing optical microscopy analysis (Maltese cross). The resulting periodic grating structure results in a Bragg reflection notch upon illumination with white light due to the periodic variation in refractive index. Electro-optical experiments realized through in-plane electrodes and temperature experiments confirm that the multilayer structure acts as a Bragg mirror whose reflection efficiency can be controlled by either a small (~3V/µm) electric field or temperature.
Highlights
Holographic photopolymerization (HP) is a simple, fast and attractive way to fabricate one, two- and three-dimensional (1D, 2D, 3D) complex structures with length scale periodicity commensurate with the optical regime [1,2,3,4]
The formation and characterization of a switchable volume reflective element fabricated from a polymer liquid crystal (LC) polymer slice (POLICRYPS) structure by holographic photopolymerization at high temperature (65 °C) using a photosensitive/nematic liquid crystal prepolymer mixture is reported
The submicron Bragg structure formed consists of periodic continuous polymeric walls separated by periodic LC channels
Summary
Holographic photopolymerization (HP) is a simple, fast and attractive way to fabricate one-, two- and three-dimensional (1D, 2D, 3D) complex structures with length scale periodicity commensurate with the optical regime [1,2,3,4] For these applications, the recording material must be optimized for efficient diffraction with low scattering and maximum information storage. POLICRYPS transmission gratings have been extensively studied and have shown relevance to switchable phase modulators [21], all-optical diffraction gratings [22] and tunable optical filters [23] This geometry offers a versatile suite of wall geometries, either planar or curved, allows different orientation states (perpendicular or parallel) depending on chemistry and cure conditions, and can be utilized to produce multi-dimension high resolution patterning [24]. Reported here is the first demonstration of a Bragg reflector utilizing the POLICRYPS fabrication technique
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