基于飞秒激光直写的液晶面外区域定向技术及其应用

Compartmentalized Out-of-Plane Alignment of Liquid Crystals Based on Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing and Its Applications

随着激光加工技术和液晶取向工艺的发展,一种新型的基于飞秒激光直写的液晶面外区域定向技术问世。基于飞秒多光子光聚合激光直写技术制备出由聚合物条带构成的微结构,将其制成液晶盒,并充入不同种类的液晶,即可实现电光开关、磁光开关、光场调控等功能。每条聚合物条带的侧壁上都分布有表面浮雕光栅结构,使得液晶在聚合物条带通道内的定向成为可能。该技术不仅使不同区域内的液晶实现了物理隔离,还可以使液晶和聚合物实现完全的相分离。该技术快捷简单,在可调谐衍射光栅的实现、特殊光场的产生、光子晶体中的光场调控等方面具有重要的应用价值。

Owing to the developments in laser processing technology and liquid crystal alignment technology, a novel compartmentalized out-of-plane alignment technology of liquid crystals based on femtosecond laser direct writing is introduced. Femtosecond multiphoton polymerization based laser direct writing is used to prepare microstructures comprising polymeric ribbons. The liquid crystal cells are fabricated by filling different kinds of liquid crystals that can then function as an electro-optical switch, a magneto-optical switch, and light field control. The surface relief grating structures are distributed on the sidewalls of each polymer ribbon, which make it possible for liquid crystal orientation within the polymeric ribbon channel. The technology can realize the physical isolation of liquid crystals in different regions and complete phase separation of liquid crystals and polymers. The proposed technology is fast and simple, which has great application value in tunable diffraction gratings, special light field generation, and light field control in photonic crystals.