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The spectra and dielectric properties of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal films doped with different concentrations of ZnO nanorods were studied. The scanning electron microscopy images show that doping ZnO nanorod concentration can increase the size of liquid crystal droplets to microscale. The absorption spectra of the films also show that the edge of the absorption band of the composite system moves towards high energy with the increase of the concentration of ZnO nanorods. On the other hand, the investigation results show that the dielectric constant and loss increase with the increase of doping concentration from 4 Hz-1 MHz. Further analysis of the Cole–Cole diagram fitted by Havriliak-Negami equation shows that there are three relaxation processes. The improvement of dielectric strength and relaxation frequency of nanocomposites was observed at low frequencies of 100 Hz. A threefold reduce in relaxation time for the doped sample (0.5 wt.%) was obtained compared with that of pure sample without doping. In addition, the studies show that the temperature has a great influence on the activation energy of materials, which have a slight increase (~5°C) in transition temperature of liquid crystals. Practically, in ethanol gas sensing experiment, the results show the value of permittivity increases and impedance decreases. Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we use multicomponent mutual diffusion method to derive a one-dimensional non-local diffusion dynamic model to describe the diffusion kinetics of a dynamic holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal grating (H-PDLC) doped with nano-silver. The physical mechanism of diffusion between monomer and liquid crystal, monomer and nano-silver particles is analysed using this model. Using coupled-wave theory, the H-PDLC's diffraction efficiency curve with the expose time are simulated due to the vivid changing of effective refractive index modulation caused by the movement of concentration of each component with the expose time. Correspondingly, in the experiment, the diffraction efficiency of the grating is measured in real time, which shows the improvement for the holographic properties because of nano-silver doped H-PDLC. The simulation results have a good agreement with experimental data by fitting the corresponding parameters of the model. In addition, through comparing with simulation and experimental results with doping different concentrations of nano-silver particles, the recipe and diffraction characteristics of H-PDLC grating can be improved. Thus, the diffusion Kinetics model can be used to optimise the phase separation of the PDLC grating, and finally to improve the opto-electrical properties of H-PDLC gratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a method to improve the wavelength-sensitivity of a volume holographic grating by mixing dual-photoinitiation dopants, namely, rose bengal (RB)/N-phenylglycine (NPG) system and methylene blue (MB)/p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) system, which enable the fabrication of gratings upon both green and red light illumination. The RB/NPG green light photoinitiation system is chosen in combination with the red-active MB/PTSA system because RB and MB absorb light near 567 and 665 nm independently. In this case, the holographic gratings, recorded in polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, can be fabricated simultaneously by two different visible laser lights with an output wavelength of 532 and 632.8 nm. The electro-optical performances of the gratings exposed upon 532 and 632.8 nm have been implemented: the diffraction efficiencies (DE) are 75% and 57% respectively when the exposure time is optimised to 2 min and 17 min; the threshold voltage is approximately 2.9 V/μm. The enhanced wavelength-sensitivity of holographic gratings allows for the storage of three-dimensional (3D) images on the same hologram plate, and these 3D images are easily reconstructed by both red and green light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the requirements of large screen projection displays, we propose an ultra-thin zoom projection lens with a small throw ratio (TR), ultra-short throw distance and large field-of-view (FOV) using a digital micromirror device as a spatial modulator. A refractive-reflective system is developed to correct the distortion and shorten the projection distance. The image size (diagonal, 16:9 aspect ratio) of the projector is 80-120 in. (2.032-3.048 m) with a TR of 0.22, TV distortion < 0.6%, root mean square (RMS) spot size < 1.1 mm, relative illumination > 85% and modulation transfer function > 0.4 at 0.55 lp/mm for all fields and zoom conditions. When the tolerance error is considered, the RMS value is less than 1.3 mm for all fields and zoom conditions. Finally, the projection lens is fabricated and tested according to the designed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose the use of a varied-line-spacing (VLS) holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) Bragg grating as a switchable image splitter to generate a compatible three-dimensional (3D) stereogram and to increase the viewing angle of the observer. To fabricate the VLS grating, a cylindrical lens is adopted to form a cylindrical wave, which interferes with a plane wave, generating an H-PDLC grating with a continuously varying period. The proposed holographic optical element (HOE)-based image splitter comprises two VLS H-PDLC gratings. It can be attached on a designed pattern, with two rectangles taking the place of conventional liquid crystal display panel pixels, and can separate them into right and left viewing fields with a wider range. Experimental results show that the movement of the eyes of the observer can reach 37.6 mm. A theoretical simulation indicates that a shorter focal length of the cylindrical lens can yield a larger movement range. Switching between two-dimensional and 3D modes can be performed by applying an external alternating-current voltage at ~80 V. The contrast ratio of the diffracted images induced by crosstalk is greater than 60%, which indicates the feasibility of the proposed HOE for 3D image splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A four-channel frequency division multiplexed fluorescent microscope (FDMFM) modulated by holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (H-PDLC) grating array is presented in this paper. The four-channel H-PDLC grating array is developed and employed to generate frequency modulation. Fluorescent signals at four different locations on a rat neural cell have been successfully modulated with four different frequencies, collected by a single high-sensitivity photodetector, such as photomultiplier tubes, and distinguished by taking the Fourier transform of the detected sum signal. The experimental and simulation results agree well. The new system offers the advantages of (1) multiple channel modulation capability, (2) no mechanical noise and (3) flexible and controllable modulation profile (e.g. square wave, triangular wave, etc.). Thus this four-channel FDMFM system can be very helpful for studying fast-changing transient events in biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]