Studies of the structures and characteristics of optically switchable liquid crystal light shutters

Chi-Tang Huang^1*, Cheng-Kai Liu¹, Ko-Ting Cheng¹

¹Department of Optics of Photonics, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

* Presenter:Chi-Tang Huang, email:h84515@gmail.com

This study focuses on the influences of light shutter architecture resulted from the adopted polymer networks. The proposed cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) light shutter can be switched between transparent and scattering states under the illumination of UV lights. The switching mechanism of the CLC light shutter is based on the photo-isomerization effect and the photo-induced thermal effect of the doped push-pull azobenzene molecules. The proposed CLC light shutter has the capability to adjust transmittance automatically through the environmental variation, the possibility of applications of smart windows and future works according to its optical characteristics are also proposed in this study.

Keywords: liquid crystal, optically switchable liquid crystal light shutter, polymer network, azobenzene material, smart window