In-plane pitch control of cholesteric liquid crystals by formation of artificial domains via patterned photopolymerization

Opt Express. 2008 Nov 10;16(23):19033-41. doi: 10.1364/oe.16.019034.

Abstract

A controlled helix pitch modulation in the in-plane direction of a planarly aligned cholesteric liquid crystal cell is demonstrated by using photopolymerizable cholesteric liquid crystals. By fabricating artificial domains with a closed volume via two-photon excitation laser-lithography, the degree of pitch modulation could be controlled by adjusting the surface area to volume ratio of the domain. A pitch modulation of over 60 nm was realized by designing the shape of the artificial domain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Phase Transition
  • Photochemistry / methods*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Refractometry / methods*

Substances

  • Polymers