Application of the electro-optic Kerr effect to investigation of the intermolecular H-bond

The intermolecular H-bond plays an important role in chemical and biological systems and processes. This review considers various aspects of the application of the electro-optic Kerr effect in the investigation of the intermolecular H-bond. Current approaches to the determination of structures of H-bonded molecular complexes are described. From the measurements of the electro-optic and molar Kerr constants of the complexes and their individual components these methods produce the basic parameters of the H-bonded complexes, including the complex formation equilibrium constant (K) and the H-bond dipole moment (μ_H). The importance of a new parameter, namely, the structural additive difference of the molar Kerr constants (ΔmK)_S is illustrated. The prospects of future progress in the studies of the intermolecular H-bond by the electro-optic methods are discussed.     

Volume-stabilized ULH structure for the flexoelectro-optic effect and the phase-shift effect in cholesterics

Flexoelectric coupling gives rise to a linear electro-optic response in cholesterics (flexoelectrooptic effect) with a uniformly lying helix (ULH) structure and this electro-optic effect is strongly reliant on the homogeneity and quality of the texture. The ULH structure, unfortunately, is complicated in itself and may be perturbed by factors such as dielectric coupling, surface/liquid crystal interactions and phase transitions, and often there is a tendency for relaxation into the Grandjean texture (standing helix structure) with time. Hence, in order to exploit the flexoelectro-optic effect in cholesterics any instability of the ULH structure must be ruled out. We have overcome these problems by incorporating a polymer network by means of photopolymerization of a reactive monomer added to the cholesteric. The volume stabilized ULH structure still exhibits the flexoelectro-optic effect, it is stable and it is also retained after heating to the isotropic phase and going back to the cholesteric phase. In addition to the flexoelectro-optic mode, the ULH structure is of interest in an electro-optic mode characterized by a pure phase-shift with no change in amplitude (transmittance). This mode, which has obvious applications in spatial light modulators, optical computing devices and electrically controlled kinoforms and phase holograms working without polarizers, is also briefly discussed.     

Alignment and switching of AFLC materials using various boundary conditions

We have systematically studied the quality of bookshelf alignment and electro-optic characteristics of two antiferroelectric liquid crystal materials in cells with various boundary conditions. The electro-optic characteristics of the materials studied depend strongly on both the liquid crystal materials and the boundary conditions at the supporting substrates. We have compared a number of observations in these cells: the tendency to form AFLC domains in the virgin state and after switching; the surface electroclinic effect (SEC effect); the transmission-voltage characteristics (TV) when driven with triangular- and square-wave voltages at various frequencies; the threshold field and the conditions for relaxation to the AFLC state. The set of samples includes specially designed and manufactured test cells with different polyimides as alignment layers, treated with varying rubbing strengths. We discuss the significance of various factors and show the importance of simultaneously optimizing both materials and cell parameters for AFLC applications.     

Nonlinear optical properties of polymeric materials and polymer films: Recent developments and future trends

An overview of recent developments in the field of nonlinear-optical properties of polymers is presented. The emphasis is placed on frequency doubling, the electro-optic effect, and photorefractive properties of polymers.     

Design of advanced multicomponent ferroelectric liquid crystalline mixtures with submicrometre helical pitch

New functional multicomponent ferroelectric liquid crystalline mixtures have been designed while searching smart self-assembling materials with submicrometre periodicity of the helical structure responding definite demands for application in electro-optic devices and photonics that exploit the deformed helix ferroelectric effect. The resulting designed mixtures possess the paraelectric smectic A* and the tilted ferroelectric smectic C* phases over a very broad temperature range down below the room temperature. The mesomorphic, electro-optic and dielectric properties have been studied and discussed. The presence of a very stable enantiotropic ferroelectric smectic phase exhibiting almost temperature independent helical pitch within 150–250 nm range and reasonably high values of the tilt angle might allow these mixtures to be applicable for practical purposes.     

Atomistic molecular modeling of the effect of chromophore concentration on the electro-optic coefficient in nonlinear optical polymers

We employ fully atomistic molecular modeling to investigate the concentration dependence of the electro-optic coefficient of two guest-host polymer composites. Using classical molecular dynamics, we record the time-evolution of the guest-host system under the application of an external electric field. Through analysis of the orientation of the nonlinear optical chromophores in the guest-host composite with respect to the direction of the external electric field, we calculate the orientational parameter N < cos(3)theta >, with N being the number density of chromophores in the composite. This parameter is directly proportional to the electro-optic coefficient. We find agreement between the concentration dependence of the electro-optic coefficient calculated through our simulation and that from experimental data and also from Monte Carlo models.     

A tilted ferroelectric smectic phase emerging from monomer/polymer mixtures

Mixtures of a fluorescent liquid crystalline side chain polyacrylate and its corresponding ferroelectric monomer were studied by optical microscopy, DSC, X-ray and electro-optic techniques. For some of these mixtures we surprisingly found the emergence of the ferroelectric S*_x phase, which is not exhibited by the single components. The crystalline phase of the monomer is completely suppressed by polymer concentrations above 25 per cent. The 50 per cent polymer-containing mixture shows a clear eutectic effect for the tilted phases and allows electro-optic switching close to room temperature, more than 40 K below the melting point of the monomer.     

Electro-optic effect,propagation loss,and switching speed in polymers containing nano-sized droplets of liquid crystal

Polymers containing droplets of liquid crystal smaller than 100 nm, which have good transparency and easily form films, were prepared under various conditions to evaluate their potential as electro-optic materials for waveguide-type devices. By varying the liquid crystal concentration and the strength of the UV irradiation causing photo-induced phase separation of the droplets, we were able to control the droplet size and density. We have clarified how the birefringence generated in an applied electric field, switching speed, and optical loss of light propagating in the film depend on droplet size and density. Polymer materials having a large electro-optic effect (δn = 0.001 at 8 V μm^-1), low propagation loss (~2.5 dB cm^-1), and fast response time (~10 μs) have been developed.     

Dielectric enhancement of chiral flexoelectro-optic switching

The chiral flexoelectro-optic effect is a candidate for realising sub-millisecond electro-optic technologies. Here, we discuss how flexoelectro-optic switching in cholesteric structures can be enhanced by using the dielectric coupling of the field to materials with negative dielectric anisotropy. An experiment is described that can measure the dielectric effect on flexoelectric switching, and the technique is applied to a chiral nematic mixture E7+3.5%R5011. We explore numerically the optimal liquid crystal parameters to best exploit the effect. An enhancement of up to 1° is demonstrated numerically.     

Influence of Electro-Acoustic Effects on the Electro-Optic Response of Charged Colloids

Low-frequencyanomalous electro-optic behavior of colloidal systems (sign reversal and deviations from Kerr low) is considered in the light of electrically induced acoustic modes. The latter were recently detected and investigated in samples of isotropic spherical particles. Their linear dependence on field intensity explains the low-field “permanent dipole” behavior of charged colloids. The coupling of anisotropy and density fluctuations results in the complicated frequency curves of the electro-optic responses of anisometric particles.     

Evidence for the non-uniform distribution of polymer networks formed in liquid crystal devices

The electro-optic properties of liquid crystal devices are modified by the presence of a polymer network formed by the exposure to UV light of reactive mesogen molecules dissolved within the liquid crystal host. The effect of the polymer network depends on its density, and knowledge of this through the liquid crystal layer is necessary to understand qualitatively, and to model quantitatively, the electro-optic properties of liquid crystal devices containing polymer networks. Various techniques have been used to study the distribution of the polymer network and these show an increased concentration of the network near the surface closest to the UV light. Evidence is presented that the polymer network distribution becomes more uniform when non-UV absorbing liquid crystals are used.     

Evidence for the non-uniform distribution of polymer networks formed in liquid crystal devices

The electro-optic properties of liquid crystal devices are modified by the presence of a polymer network formed by the exposure to UV light of reactive mesogen molecules dissolved within the liquid crystal host. The effect of the polymer network depends on its density, and knowledge of this through the liquid crystal layer is necessary to understand qualitatively, and to model quantitatively, the electro-optic properties of liquid crystal devices containing polymer networks. Various techniques have been used to study the distribution of the polymer network and these show an increased concentration of the network near the surface closest to the UV light. Evidence is presented that the polymer network distribution becomes more uniform when non-UV absorbing liquid crystals are used.     

Effect of monoacrylate type in UV curable PU acrylate based bicontinuous polymer/liquid crystal networks

Polymer network liquid crystals (PNLC) have been prepared from ultraviolet-curable polyurethane acrylate (PUA) and a nematic liquid crystal mixture (BL002). Effects of monoacrylate type on film morphology, temperature-dependent off-state transmittance, and electro-optic performance of the film have been studied. Among three types of monoacrylates incorporated (EHA(2-ethyl hexyl acrylate), MMA (methylmethacryalte), NVP (N-vinylpyrrolidone)), EHA-based PUAs gave the greatest polymer–LC phase separation, lowest threshold (V₁₀), and operating (V₉₀) voltages, and the effect was more pronounced in monoacrylate/triacrylate systems than in monoacrylate/diacrylate systems. Contact angle measurement offers a clue to the observed morphology and electro-optic behavior. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1393–1399, 1998     

Steady electro-optic characteristics of noninteracting colloidal particles

In previous papers on the electro-optic effects of beta-FeOOH particles we proposed a new procedure for analysis of the low frequency behavior of charged particles. The procedure is based on comparison of characteristic field intensity curves on an appropriate scale and helps to test the dependence of the slow effects on particle surface electric polarizability (relaxing in the kilohertz domain). The results stimulated us to test the applicability of the method to other samples and to reconsider the literature data on the electro-optic behavior of charged colloids in the hydrodynamic domain. The aim of the present paper is to demonstrate on a series of samples similar features of the electro-optic responses of charged particles in the relaxation interval of particle rotation. The analysis leads to a new hypothesis for explanation of the complicated low frequency behavior of charged particles. The superposition of two slow effects (linear and quadratic with field intensity), relaxing in the relaxation interval of particle rotation, can explain the complicated frequency curves in this domain. One of the slow effects is observed for all polarizable particles. It is of negative sign and displays the features of an induced dipole effect dependent on the "kilohertz" induced moment. It corresponds to a slow stage of the surface polarization process related to electrokinetic charge. The linear slow effect shows permanent dipole like behavior and appears only at certain ionic content of the medium. It shows no direct dependence on counterion mobility and on the "kilohertz" induced moment and is probably due to surface charge nonuniformity.     

Electro-optic characteristics of aqueous beta-FeOOH particles

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the electro-optic behavior of suspensions of noninteracting monodisperse beta-FeOOH particles. The electro-optic parameters are determined for aqueous suspensions of the oxide particles and the influences of surface charge and Debye layer thickness are verified. Since the conventional method of frequency analysis is inconsistent in the low-frequency range, new electro-optic parameters are introduced to define the frequency variation of the effects. Electric polarizability is determined with precision to a constant, and its relative variations are followed. As reported for other oxides, electric polarizability correlates with charge variations in the diffuse part of the particle surface electric layer, and its relaxation frequency increases with surface charge density, indicating a Maxwell-Wagner type of surface polarization. The alternating component of the responses yields particle relaxation frequency and the phase shift of the responses at this frequency. For all studied samples the phase shift at particle relaxation frequency is 45 degrees. The relative changes in the steady component of the responses in the low-frequency range are followed by field intensity curves at characteristic frequencies of the samples. Electrophoretic rotation is the process consistent with our data for the low-frequency effect. The results show that it is enhanced by the combined actions of low or slowly relaxing polarizability and significant electrophoretic mobility.     

Preliminary communication First observation of an optically controlled electro-optic effect in nematic-discotic liquid crystals

An optically controlled electro-optic effect in nematic-discotic liquid crystals was discovered for the first time. The peculiarities of this effect are: (a) high photosensitivity observed in three different radial multiyne liquid crystal materials, allowing optically controlled transmission, i.e. giving the possibility of writing and reproducing optical images; (b) for one of these compounds ( 1a ) the effect occurs at temperatures far below its melting point and even at room temperature.     

Effect of modified donor units on molecular hyperpolarizability of thienyl-vinylene nonlinear optical chromophores

Highly efficient and thermally stable nonlinear optical chromophores based on the phenyl vinylene thiophene vinylene (FTC) donor-π-acceptor structure have been synthesized and investigated. The donor part of the chromophores was modified with additional donor units, resulting in the enhanced nonlinear optical property with large molecular hyperpolarizability. Hyper-Rayleigh scattering measurement indicated nearly threefold increase of the molecular hyperpolarizability for novel chromophores compared with the benchmark FTC chromophore. Furthermore, measurement of the electro-optic coefficient confirmed that enhancement of microscopic molecular hyperpolarizability of the chromophores can be effectively translated into macroscopic electro-optic property. Measured electro-optic coefficients were nearly twofold larger than that for the benchmark FTC. Thermal analysis indicated that the synthesized chromophores showed the excellent temperature stability with decomposition temperatures up to 280 °C.     

The effect of nanographites dispersed in Undec-10-enic acid on optical property and morphology of PDLC films

The electric conductivity is an important factor for reducing the switching voltage of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) films. The electric conductivity of polymer matrix is changed by doped nanographite which is uniform dispersed in polymer matrix in acid condition. The influence of doped nanographite to switching electric field is studied. With increasing of doped nanographite, the switching voltage is dramatically reduced. The effect of nanographite on the polymerization and electro-optic are discussed. The kinetic polymerization of the PDLCs is monitored in lights scattering by UV/VIS spectrometer. The polymerization speed is compared by the max scattering point in different samples which doped by nanographite. The electro-optic of PDLCs films is measured by Polarimeter (PerkinElmer Model 341) to determine the threshold voltage. Information gained from polarizing optical microscope and Fourier transform infrared image depict the morphology of the liquid crystal droplets dispersed in polymer matrix.     

电晕极化电光聚合物调制器的制备研究

随着光通信的飞速发展,高速聚合物电光调制器的应用更加重要广泛.聚合物薄膜是制造聚合物电光调制器的基础.文中介绍与分析了聚合物电光调制器聚合物薄膜的电晕极化制备方法.     

Electro-optical investigations of the dipole moments of nanoparticles

In this paper, the electric properties of polar nanoparticles are examined. Special attention is paid to the terminology, classification and the physical bases of the different electric moments. A short history of the electro-optic studies of dipole moments of nanoparticles and the electro-optic Conferences is presented. The connection of the polar properties with the particle electric charge is considered. The potential of the colloid electro-optics for studying the properties of anisometric, anisotropic polar nanoparticles is discussed in details. Examples of such studies are presented. A comparative analysis is made of the potential of dielectric, electro-optic and dielectrophoretic measurements for studying the electric properties, size, shape and structure of polar nanoparticles.