面向非显示应用的人工微结构液晶材料研究

Liquid crystal (LC) has been widely used in information display areas due to its unique electro-optic characteristics. Its optical birefringence covers very wide spectral range, which could be used to manipulate light’s various properties. In recent years, the non-display aplications of LC also attracted many attentions. The related researches have extended to infrared and even THz ranges. This proposal would focus on the design and fabrication of LC materials for non-display applications. The relationship between the LC molecular structure and its electro-optic properties thus could be revealed. We would do effective local control on the light’s intensity, polarization, phase and wavefront. In the mean time, the enviomental sensitivity of LC may further endow the tunability to various novel periodic, quasi-periodic and other non-periodic optical microstructures. We would tune the intrinsic features of LC through molecular and self-assembly designs; we would manipulate the optical field through microstructure design; we also would realize the external field tuning by taking advantages of suitable electrical and optical approaches individually or simultaneously. We believe some interesting telecom and THz devices thus could be obtained. Many related applications are expected.

液晶因优异的电光特性在信息显示领域得到广泛应用，其光学各向异性覆盖了广阔的波段，可用于诸多光学特性的调控。近年来，液晶在非显示领域中的应用也日益引起关注，相关研究逐步由可见拓展到了红外甚至太赫兹频段。本项目研究面向非显示应用进行液晶材料的设计与制备，在更宽频段内探索液晶分子结构与其电光性质之间的关联机制。利用液晶对光强、偏振、位相和波前等的微区控制，实现光场的局域调控。同时，结合若干新颖的周期、准周期及其他特殊非周期光学微结构，借助液晶的外场敏感性赋予其即时调谐特性。本项目拟通过对液晶分子及自组装结构的设计调控其内秉属性，通过人工微结构设计来操纵光场，以电、光及电光联合调控手段来进行调谐；进而研制若干光通信及太赫兹波段的原理型元器件并探索其应用。

本项目主要研究面向非显示应用的液晶材料的设计与制备。通过项目的实施，制备了一类具备高Δn性质的液晶结构，并以该中心结构为核心，合成出三种满足后续需求应用的高Δn液晶。获得了具备光场、电场特殊响应特性的微结构手性液晶材料。自主开发了一种动态缩微投影液晶光控取向系统，可以灵活在液晶、液晶聚合物中制备任意图形的取向微结构, 并基于此实现了一系列平面液晶光子元件。研制了若干光通信及太赫兹波段的原理型元器件并探索其应用。