Effective electrically tunable infrared reflectors based on polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals

ABSTRACT

Electrically tunable infrared (IR) reflectors based on polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLC) have been fabricated. The influence of polymerisation time on bandwidth broadening and response time of the IR reflector was investigated. Such IR reflector can reflect broad band of infrared light from 725 to 1435 nm upon application of a DC electric field, while remaining predominantly transparent in the visible region, with the transmittance in the region of 400–700 nm being above 90%. Bandwidth broadening was induced using low operational power with acceptable switching speeds. Model tests reveal that this IR reflector can effectively control the indoor temperature. The distinct properties of such IR reflector make it a good candidate for smart windows of automobiles and buildings to control interior temperature and save energy.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Cholesteric liquid crystals
• polymer network
• electric regulation
• infrared reflectors
• energy saving

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant [Grant Nos. 51503070, 21504025, 51561135014]; Guangdong Innovative Research Team Program under Grant [Grant No. 2013C102]; Science and technology project of Guangdong Province [Grant No. 2016B090909001, 2017B020240002]; Science and technology Project of Shenzhen [Grant No. JSGG201704143009027]; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology under Grant [Grant No. 2017B030301007], MOE International Laboratory for Optical Information Technologies and the 111 Project.