Electrically modulated fluorescence in optically active polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystal shutter

Abstract

An optical tunable shutter is fabricated by the dispersion of chiral dopant into nematic liquid crystal mixture and is stabilised by UV-cured fibrous network. These fibrous aggregates provide stability to the liquid crystal molecules and show highly fluorescent scattered state. The electrical tuning of photoluminescence in optical shutter shows a decrease in fluorescence intensity during stage triggering from homogeneous to homeotropic and improves the optical contrast of the optical devices, which can be used as switchable windows with desirable optimum voltage.

Keywords:

• liquid crystal shutter device
• electro-optic properties
• fluorescence and photoluminescence contrast

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank M/s Norland, NJ, for providing the polymer and E. Merck, UK, for providing liquid crystal materials used in the present research work. Author is also thankful to the University Grant Commission (UGC) for their financial support in this major research project.