Chiral nematic order in liquid crystals imposed by an engineered inorganic nanostructure

Article Abstract:

The glancing-angle deposition (GLAD) technique has been investigated for use with sputtering films. Porous films with helical columns of MgF2 were deposited onto glass substrates using GLAD. The porous chiral film was impregnated with a number of materials, including water and an optically isotropic polymer. Circular polarized spectroscopic optical transmission was measured to establish the optical response of chiral films impregnated with liquid crystals (LCs). It was shown that inorganic films with a porous structure engineered on the submicrometre scale by GLAD can be used to control the orientation of LCs impregnated into the voids.

Chemical synthesis, Inorganic compounds

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Chiral sculptured thin films

Article Abstract:

Measurement of optical rotatory dispersion using the glancing angle deposition technique was done to determine the optical activity of solid thin films that are composed of nanometer-scale helical columns. The helical sculptured thin films were found to exhibit a rotation of the plane of polarization along its helical axis when a nearly polarized light bombards it. Such optical rotation is a function of the incident light wavelength in a vacuum, a phenomenon called optical rotatory dispersion. The chiral sculptured thin films are thus considered new optically active media.

Analysis, Thin films, Polarization (Light), Optical films

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Wide-band reflective polarizers from cholesteric polymer networks with a pitch gradient

Article Abstract:

Incorporation of gradients in the pitch of the cholesteric helix produces a reflection of one of the two circularly polarized components over the visible range of the spectrum. Polarizers with broad-band reflectivity enhance the light yield and energy efficiency of liquid-crystal display devices. The incorporation of gradients in the pitch increases the bandwidth to more than 300 nanometers. Solid structures are necessary to generate a permanent helix gradient. The difference in reactivity between diacrylate and monoacrylate helps in producing helix gradients.

Polarizers (Light)

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