We investigated one-dimensional and two-dimensional optical diffraction structures fabricated in thin films of a sidechain light-sensitive liquid crystal elastomer (SC-LS-LCEs) by optical holographic lithography methods. The emphasis was on analysis of modifications of the periodicity of the recorded patterns induced by application of an external strain and by temperature modifications. The results show that due to rubber elasticity of the LCE films, relative modifications of the periodicity by 10% can easily be reached. In most cases tuning is reversible and linear with respect to the strain. Temperature induced tuning is most efficient in the region of phase transition from the nematic to the paranematic phase and provides relative periodicity modifications up to 30%.

Date Published: 26 November 2012
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8556, Holography, Diffractive Optics, and Applications V, 855616 (26 November 2012); doi: 10.1117/12.2000624

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8556:
Holography, Diffractive Optics, and Applications V
Yunlong Sheng; Chongxiu Yu; Linsen Chen, Editor(s)