Polymer dispersed liquid crystals in the IR dichroic and non-dichroic wavelength analysis

Authors

  • Victoria M. Lopez ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Zenaida B. Domingo ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman

Abstract

Polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) are composite materials of LC droplets dispersed in a polymer binder. These materials can be used effectively to modulate infrared (IR) light in the 2.5 to 14.0 μm region.
PDLCs fabricated frgm E7:PVP on Pt-coated NaCl subtrates were characterized using IR angular discrimination techniques. Results generated transmission-wavelength and transmission-orientation profiles for discrete droplet sizes in the 2 to 40 μm range. Numerical modeling methods using the Fresnel equations, Beer-Lambert law and the Rayleigh-Gans-Zumer approximations were then used to simulate the spectrophotometric plots. Dichroic effects and phase change factors due to induced birefringence produced better curve fits and optical constants (no, ne, Δn) of PDLCs in the IR. Refractive indices of the PDLC system for 3.13, 4.0, 5.0, 9.2 and 10.8 μm incident IR radiation using (2-3) μm and (12-25) μm droplet sizes are generated and reported. Listed with previous data for 2.5, 8.3 and 14.3 μm IR wavelength, the refractive indices and birefringence in the 2.5 to 14.3 μm are thus completed.
Non-dichroic wavelengths showed decreasing no and ne, for increasing wavelengths with a constant birefringence of ~0.20. Dichroic wavelengths (8.3, 9.2,10.8 μm) have large ne values with an average birefringence of ~0.25. The refractive indices of the polymer binder (PVP) show the same decreasing no and ne values for increasing wavelength.

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Issue

Article ID

SPP-1994-PL-06

Section

Plasma Physics and Liquid Crystals

Published

1994-10-15

How to Cite

[1]
VM Lopez and ZB Domingo, Polymer dispersed liquid crystals in the IR dichroic and non-dichroic wavelength analysis, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 12, SPP-1994-PL-06 (1994). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-1994-PL-06.