Deformation of structurally chiral polymer stabilized networks in electrically tunable filters

The cholesteric liquid crystalline phase self-organizes into a helical structure. In the planar orientation, the periodicity naturally exhibits a selective interference reflection. Dynamic optical responses observable as red-shifting tuning, blue-shifting tuning, or bandwidth broadening can be achieved under an electrical field with the inclusion of a polymer network. Our recent research activities have focused on further elucidating the fundamental electrochemical response of the ion-mediated deformation of the polymer stabilizing network in the cholesteric phase. A variety of liquid crystalline and non-liquid crystalline monomers are selected in order to determine how intermolecular forces and liquid crystalline interactions affect the performance of the material. Multiphoton fluorescent imaging is used to visualize pitch and polymer network deformation. The correlated influence of photopolymerization conditions and ionic impurities will be discussed.