Polymer network liquid crystal grating/Fresnel lens fabricated by holography

ABSTRACT

In this article, polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) grating/Fresnel lens is fabricated by holography. The exposure light pattern for the grating is obtained by interfering two planar wave fronts, while the Fresnel pattern is achieved by interfering a planar wave front and a spherical wave front. Owing to the alignment effect and anchoring power of polymer network, the holographic PNLC grating achieves improved diffraction efficiency, and remarkably reduced operation voltage (reduced by 80%) compared with holographic polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal and holographic polymer-stabilised blue-phase liquid-crystal gratings, while maintaining submillisecond response. Moreover, it achieves high spatial frequency with a 2-μm grating period, thanks to the holographic fabrication. The holographic PNLC Fresnel lens also exhibits attractive electro-optical properties.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Words: liquid crystal devices
• gratings
• lenses
• holographic optical elements

Acknowledgments

This work is sponsored by 973 Program (2013CB328803, 2013CB328804), National Natural Science Foundation of China (61405114), Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (14ZR1422300).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the 973 Program [2013CB328803 & 2013CB328804]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [61405114]; Science & Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality [14ZR1422300].