Tunable 3D photonic crystals by liquid crystal infiltration

C. J. Summers, E. Graugnard, D. P. Gaillot, J. S. King, Y. Zhang-Williams, I. C. Khoo

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

A review is given of recent theoretical and experimental studies on the liquid crystal (LC) infiltration of 3D photonic crystal (PC) structures so as to obtain tunable Bragg reflection and transmission characteristics. It is shown that large-pore and non-close-packed inverse opals formed by sintering, or by a multiple-layer conformal deposition technique, provide a simple and effective dielectric scaffold for liquid crystal infiltration. The dynamic optical properties are strongly dependent on the scaffold structure and the dielectric contrast between the scaffold and the LC. Experimental structures were fabricated using precise, conformal, low temperature atomic layer depositions of Al2O3 and TiO2 to create inverse opals and non-close-packed inverse opals, which were subsequently infiltrated with the nematic liquid crystals 5CB and MLC2048. The dependence of the visible/infrared reflectance and transmittance were investigated as functions of applied electric field amplitude and frequency for applications in optical modulation and switching.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationLiquid Crystals X
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
EventLiquid Crystals X - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 13 2006Aug 15 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6332
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherLiquid Crystals X
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period8/13/068/15/06

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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