Repository logo
 

Electrically Tunable Scattering from Devitrite–Liquid Crystal Hybrid Devices

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Butt, H 
Yetisen, AK 
Khan, AA 
Knowles, KM 
Qasim, MM 

Abstract

jats:pDevitrite is normally an unwanted crystalline impurity in the soda‐lime‐silica glass making process. Thin needles formed by heterogeneous nucleation of devitrite on the glass surface provide unique birefringence properties for potential applications in tunable optical devices. Here, devitrite and a liquid crystal are combined to create an electrically variable optical diffuser. The magnitude and scattering angle of the transmitted light propagating through the diffuser are tuned by varying the voltage between the graphene and indium tin oxide electrodes on either side of the liquid crystal. The threshold voltage to switch the transmitted light from a predominantly horizontal diffusion to a random order is 3.5 V. Angle‐resolved measurements show broad diffusion angles of transmitted light with a maximum deflection of ±60°. The dynamically tunable devitrite‐liquid crystal hybrid devices may advance the development of currently less viable technologies including beam shaping and automatic light transmission control.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

devitrite, diffusers, graphene, liquid crystals, nanocrystals

Journal Title

Advanced Optical Materials

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2195-1071
2195-1071

Volume Title

5

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Leverhulme Trust, Royal Society, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (IAA Follow on Fund)