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Nanohybrid Materials with Tunable Birefringence via Cation Exchange in Polymer Films
Author(s) -
Oosterlaken Bernette M.,
Xu Yifei,
Rijt Mark M. J.,
Pilz da Cunha Marina,
Timmermans Gilles H.,
Debije Michael G.,
Friedrich Heiner,
Schenning Albertus P. H. J.,
Sommerdijk Nico A. J. M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201907456
Subject(s) - birefringence , materials science , polymer , liquid crystal , layer (electronics) , chemical engineering , composite material , optoelectronics , optics , physics , engineering
In this work, a nanohybrid material based on a freestanding polymeric liquid crystal network capable of postmodification via cation exchange to tune birefringence is proposed. The smectic liquid crystal films can be infiltrated with a variety of cations, thereby changing the refractive indices ( n e and n o ) and the effective birefringence (Δ n ) of the nanohybrid material, with reversible cation infiltration occurring within minutes. Birefringence could be tuned between values of 0.06 and 0.19, depending on the cation infiltrated into the network. Upon infiltration, a decrease in the smectic layer spacing is found with layer contraction independent of the induced change in birefringence. Potential applications are in the field of specialty optical devices, such as flexible, retunable reflective filters.