Interface phenomena in multifunctional liquid-crystal ferroelectric-polymer composites

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr.-Ing. Reimund Gerhard
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Experimentelle Physik der kondensierten Materie
• Förderung: Förderung von 2009 bis 2012
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 138035589

We propose the development and microscopic characterization of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) where the electro-optically active material is embedded into a piezo- or pyroelectric host polymer. PDLCs with inactive host polymers have been known for some time as electrically switchable light-valves. With a ferro-, pyro-, and piezoelectric host, new effects arise, coupling different material quantities. For example, the application of a mechanical stress leads to a change in the internal electric field, which in turn changes the effective refractive index of the liquid crystal and hence the optical transmission.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen