PHOTOTUNABLE SELECTIVE REFLECTION OF CHOLESTERIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

The dependence of the helical pitch of a cholesteric liquid crystal based on a composite photosensitive chiral dopant (cChD) on the intensity of light irradiation was studied. The transmission spectra and the selective reflection spectra of cholesteric liquid crystal cells were measured. The concentration of the cChD additive is calculated, so that the peak of selective reflection and its rearrangement occurs in the visible range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum (380-780 nm). The possibility of photo-control by shifting the peak of the selective reflection of the cChD additive was studied, when exposed to LEDs with wavelengths of 365 nm and 450 nm, while reducing or increasing the intensity, a change in the spiral pitch was observed. Depending on the light intensity, part of the molecules of the chiral additive containing the azo group underwent isomerization, i.e. molecules in the trans-form passed to the cis-form, which led to a spectral shift of the selective reflection peak. If a small intensity of the 365 nm LED was applied, then some of the molecules were forced to transition from the trans- to the cis-form, and then, when illuminated with a 450 nm LED, from the cisto the trans-form. After reversible rearrangement, the properties of cholesteric liquid crystal changes due to interaction with light, because under the influence of light, the equilibrium ratio of the trans- and cis-isomers of the molecules of the substance changed, which macroscopically changed the torsion force of the chiral additive. Using two LEDs of 365 nm and 450 nm with different emission spectra, a reversible control of the cChD selective reflection peak in the visible range was obtained. The maximum displacement occurred at approximately 145 nm.The dependence of the helical pitch of a cholesteric liquid crystal based on a composite photosensitive chiral dopant (cChD) on the intensity of light irradiation was studied. The transmission spectra and the selective reflection spectra of cholesteric liquid crystal cells were measured. The concentration of the cChD additive is calculated, so that the peak of selective reflection and its rearrangement occurs in the visible range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum (380-780 nm). The possibility of photo-control by shifting the peak of the selective reflection of the cChD additive was studied, when exposed to LEDs with wavelengths of 365 nm and 450 nm, while reducing or increasing the intensity, a change in the spiral pitch was observed. Depending on the light intensity, part of the molecules of the chiral additive containing the azo group underwent isomerization, i.e. molecules in the trans-form passed to the cis-form, which led to a spectral shift of the selective reflection peak. If a small intensity of the 365 nm LED was applied, then some of the molecules were forced to transition from the trans- to the cis-form, and then, when illuminated with a 450 nm LED, from the cisto the trans-form. After reversible rearrangement, the properties of cholesteric liquid crystal changes due to interaction with light, because under the influence of light, the equilibrium ratio of the trans- and cis-isomers of the molecules of the substance changed, which macroscopically changed the torsion force of the chiral additive. Using two LEDs of 365 nm and 450 nm with different emission spectra, a reversible control of the cChD selective reflection peak in the visible range was obtained. The maximum displacement occurred at approximately 145 nm

Photoaligned liquid-crystal lens with a single low-voltage electrode

The simple design of liquid-crystal lenses with single electrode and operation voltage below 5 V is highly desired. We offer a new type of photoaligned liquid-crystal lens, where the refractive gradient is created by voltage application due to the patterned twist angle gradient. In this paper, we present our calculations and experimental data

Изучение зависимостей углов подвеса градиентных фоточувствительных полимерных материалов от дозы экспонирования

The optimum composition of material and its treatment conditions for tilt angle gradient formation required for creation of liquid crystal (LC) lens is determined. The distinctive feature of the material is the two-step process of alignment layer surface for variable tilt angle: standard rubbing step that defines the azimuthal direction of LC alignment, and the exposure step that forms pretilt angle profile of the alignment layer. The subject is a copolymer, characterized by the percentage of its components. We used antiparallel LC cells to determine optimum сopolymer composition. The cells have alignment layers from polymer under investigation rubbed and exposed to different doses. It is established that before exposure materials have the property of vertical LC alignment, and after exposure planar LC alignment. Material without defects of both planar and vertical alignment suitable for LC lens application - VA-30 comprises 10% photosensitive styrene-based monomer; 30% methacrylate monomer, causing vertical LC alignment and 60% methacrylate monomer, causing planar LC alignment.Предметом исследования является тройной сополимер, отличающийся процентным содержанием его компонентов. Для определения оптимального состава сополимера изготовлены антипараллельные ЖК-ячейки с ориентирующими слоями, которые подвергались стандартной процедуре натирания и облучались при разных дозах. Установлено, что до облучения материалы вертикально ориентируют жидкий кристалл, а после облучения - планарно. Материал ВО-30, состоящий из светочувствительного блока 10%, полученного на основе стирола, метакрилатного мономера, вызывающего вертикальную ориентацию ЖК 30%, и метакрилатного мономера, вызывающего планарную ориентацию ЖК 60%, обладает бездефектной планарной и вертикальной ориентацией и может быть применим для создания ЖК-линзы

Optical-acoustic method for detecting internaldefects in composite structures

An optical-acoustic method for detecting internal defects in laminated composite structures is considered. In this method, the detection of such defects is performed by producing an optical response from a thin layer of material located directly above the defect. To implement the method, a hybrid optical-digital system with ultrasonic excitation of composite panels in the frequency sweep mode was created. Results of artificial and real defects detection are shown

New dyes for guest-host mode

New guest-host dyes of red and purple colour suitable for fabrication of ultrathin film polarizer from polymerizable liquid crystals are developed. When the absorption spectrum of dye matches the photopic curve, samples with total film thickness below 50 μm show good visual contrast

Photoaligned liquid-crystal lens with a single low-voltage electrode

The simple design of liquid-crystal lenses with single electrode and operation voltage below 5 V is highly desired. We offer a new type of photoaligned liquid-crystal lens, where the refractive gradient is created by voltage application due to the patterned twist angle gradient. In this paper, we present our calculations and experimental data

Phototunable selective reflection of cholesteric liquid crystals

The dependence of the helical pitch of a cholesteric liquid crystal based on a composite photosensitive chiral dopant (cChD) on the intensity of light irradiation was studied. The transmission spectra and the selective reflection spectra of cholesteric liquid crystal cells were measured. The concentration of the cChD additive is calculated, so that the peak of selective reflection and its rearrangement occurs in the visible range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum (380-780 nm). The possibility of photo-control by shifting the peak of the selective reflection of the cChD additive was studied, when exposed to LEDs with wavelengths of 365 nm and 450 nm, while reducing or increasing the intensity, a change in the spiral pitch was observed. Depending on the light intensity, part of the molecules of the chiral additive containing the azo group underwent isomerization, i.e. molecules in the trans-form passed to the cis-form, which led to a spectral shift of the selective reflection peak. If a small intensity of the 365 nm LED was applied, then some of the molecules were forced to transition from the trans- to the cis-form, and then, when illuminated with a 450 nm LED, from the cis-to the trans-form. After reversible rearrangement, the properties of cholesteric liquid crystal changes due to interaction with light, because under the influence of light, the equilibrium ratio of the trans- and cis-isomers of the molecules of the substance changed, which macroscopically changed the torsion force of the chiral additive. Using two LEDs of 365 nm and 450 nm with different emission spectra, a reversible control of the cChD selective reflection peak in the visible range was obtained. The maximum displacement occurred at approximately 145 nm

The new approach to identification of film reflecting holographic marks

The new approach for creation of film reflecting holographic marks for optical security is proposed. Such marks are replicas of a reflecting master hologram recorded on a chalcogenide glass layer. To receive the master hologram, the joint power spectrum of a reference phase mask and an input phase mask or a transformed phase mask is produced at the plane of the hologram writing and is modulated by an inclined laser beam. If an inclined laser beam illuminates the replica recorded on a flexible substrate, phase noise including speckle noise is eliminated because the hologram carrier frequency exceeds greatly the limiting frequency of the phase noise power spectrum. Experimental results have shown the principal possibility to produce the high performance film reflecting holographic marks for security applications. The proposed approach can be combined with technologies for fabrication of rainbow holograms. In this case, the received rainbow holograms are the reflecting holographic marks simultaneously. Therefore, they can be verified not only visually, but also by means of automatic identification