Photopolymer with nematic liquid crystals: preparation and electro-optical properties

Abstract

Holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals are known as HPDLC. They are made by holographic recording in a photo-initiated polymerization-induced phase separation process in which the liquid crystal molecules diffuse to dark zones in the diffraction grating and they can be oriented by means of an electric field. The orientation of the liquid crystal produces a refraction index variation, which changes the diffraction efficiency and therefore the grating develops a dynamic behaviour that could be modified by means of an electronic device.