Micro- and nanofibers and liquid crystals for light-scattering shutters: simulation of electro-optical properties

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2014 Jan;89(1):012507. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.89.012507. Epub 2014 Jan 23.

Abstract

This work demonstrates the feasibility of using polymeric micro- and nanofiber-composed films and liquid crystals as electrically switchable scattering light shutters. We present a concept of electro-optic device based on an innovative combination of two mature technologies: optics of nematic liquid crystals and electrospinning of nanofibers. These devices have electric and optical characteristics far superior to other comparable methods. The simulation presented shows results that are highly consistent with those of experiments and that explain the working mechanism of the devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Liquid Crystals / radiation effects*
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation*
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Refractometry / methods
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation