Pyroelectric response to near infrared radiation of a ferroelectric liquid crystal

Abstract

We have explored the potential of ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) for applications in the area of the pyroelectric infrared detection. In the homogeneous geometry, the pyroelectric response of an electroclinic mixture, 854E, was measured by using a near infrared light-emitting diode with the maximum intensity of 20 mW at the wavelength of 0.95 μm. In the range of the modulation frequency between 8 and 400 Hz, the pyroelectric characteristics of 854E in the current mode were determined in terms of the duration of the irradiation and the associated thermal relaxation of the detector. It is indicated that FLCs are emerged as a new class of promising candidates for pyroelectric applications.