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Cell thickness dependence of electrically tunable infrared reflectors based on polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals

厚度依赖的聚合物稳定胆甾相液晶的电控红外反射器件

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Abstract

We reported here the fabrication of the electrically tunable infrared (IR) reflectors based on the polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal (PSCLC) with negative dielectric anisotropy. A systematic study of the influence of cell gap on the electrically tunable reflection bandwidth was performed. When a direct current (DC) electric field was applied, the reflection bandwidth red shifted in the cells with small cell gap, whereas the bandwidth broadening was observed in the cells with large cell gap. It is therefore reasonable to deduct that the reflection is dictated by the pitch gradient steepness which strongly relies on the cell thickness. The results reveal that for making PSCLC based IR reflector windows with electrically induced bandwidth broadening, a minimal cell gap thickness is required. The resulted IR reflectors possess a short native switching time and long-term operation stability, and are potentially applicable as smart energy saving windows in buildings and automobiles.

摘要

本文报道了基于聚合物胆甾相液晶的、 可电场调控的红外反射器件的制备, 并系统研究了器件厚度对器件性能的影响. 即施加直流电场后, 厚度较小的器件的反射带宽仅发生红移; 厚度较大的器件的反射带宽增宽. 这种现象是由于不同厚度的胆甾相液晶薄膜中不同的螺距梯度导致的. 本工作的研究结果表明在制备基于聚合物胆甾相液晶的电控红外反射器件时, 厚度是决定反射性能的重要因素. 由于该红外反射器件具有较快的响应时间和较好的工作稳定性, 在建筑和汽车等的节能窗领域有较好的应用前景.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51503070, 51561135014, U1501244), Guangdong Innovative Research Team Program under Grant [2013C102], Science and technology project of Guangdong Province [2015B090913004, 2016B090909001], Science and technology Project of Shenzhen [JSGG201704143009027], Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology under Grant [2017B030301007] and the 111 Project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SCNU-TUE Joint Laboratory of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Xiaowen Hu  (胡小文), Laurens T. de Haan, Albertus P. H. J. Schenning, Li Nian  (辇理) & Guofu Zhou  (周国富)

  2. Laboratory of Functional Organic Materials & Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Hitesh Khandelwal & Albertus P. H. J. Schenning

  3. Institute of Electronic Paper Displays and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Xiaowen Hu  (胡小文), Laurens T. de Haan, Li Nian  (辇理) & Guofu Zhou  (周国富)

  4. Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics Tech. Co. Ltd., No. 1301-1, Tourism Road, Dabu Xiang, Longhua District, Shenzhen, 518110, China

    Laurens T. de Haan

Authors
  1. Xiaowen Hu  (胡小文)
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  2. Laurens T. de Haan
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  3. Hitesh Khandelwal
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  4. Albertus P. H. J. Schenning
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  5. Li Nian  (辇理)
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  6. Guofu Zhou  (周国富)
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Correspondence to Xiaowen Hu  (胡小文).

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Xiaowen Hu was born in 1987 and joined South China Normal University in 2015. He completed his PhD in materials physics and chemistry at South China University of Technology in 2014. His research is related to organic optoelectronic devices such as polymer solar cells, light shutters and infrared reflectors basd on liquid crystal polymer.

Guofu Zhou was born in 1964 and became full professor of South China Normal University in 2014. He completed his dual PhD in materials science at Chinese academy of science in 1991, and in Physics at University of Amsterdam in 1994, respectively. His research is related to the field of micro/nano optoelectronic materials, devices and flat panel displays, mainly engaged in research on optoelectronic materials and devices.

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Hu, X., de Haan, L.T., Khandelwal, H. et al. Cell thickness dependence of electrically tunable infrared reflectors based on polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals. Sci. China Mater. 61, 745–751 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-017-9163-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-017-9163-0

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