Blue-phase-polymer-templated nematic with sub-millisecond broad-temperature range electro-optic switching

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a blue-phase-polymer-templated nematic material that achieves ultra-fast electro-optic switching within a broad temperature range, combining structural stability with rapid response times.

Contribution

It introduces a novel nematic system with a polymer template that enables sub-millisecond switching and broad thermodynamic stability, advancing electro-optic device performance.

Findings

Response time of 0.1 ms achieved.

Broad temperature stability demonstrated.

Optically isotropic in field-free state.

Abstract

We report on fast electro-optic switching (response time 0.1 ms) of a blue-phase-polymer templated nematic with a broad-temperature range of thermodynamic stability and hysteresis-free performance. The nematic fills a polymer template that imposes a periodic structure with cubic symmetry and submicron period. In the field-free state, the nematic in polymer template is optically isotropic. An applied electric field causes non-zero optical retardance. The approach thus combines beneficial structural and optical features of the blue phase (cubic structure with submicron periodicity) and superior thermodynamic stability and electro-optic switching ability of the nematic filler.