Open AccessFlexible light valves using polymer-dispersed liquid crystals and TiO2/Ag/TiO2 multilayers
Author(s) -
Chung Chin Chiou,
Fan Hsi Hsu,
Stefan Petrov,
Vera Marinova,
Hristosko Dikov,
P. Vitanov,
Dimitre Dimitrov,
Ken Yuh Hsu,
Yi Lin,
Shiuan Huei Lin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.016911
Subject(s) - materials science , transmittance , polyethylene terephthalate , sheet resistance , fabrication , sputter deposition , optoelectronics , bending , flexible display , layer (electronics) , planar , electrical conductor , liquid crystal , polymer , composite material , optics , liquid crystal display , sputtering , nanotechnology , thin film , medicine , alternative medicine , computer graphics (images) , physics , pathology , computer science , thin film transistor
The era of flexible optoelectronics demands development of wearable and bendable structures, foldable touch screens, paper-like displays, and curved and flexible solid-state lighting devices. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of highly flexible light valves using polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) and TiO 2 /Ag/TiO 2 transparent conductive films. TiO 2 /Ag/TiO 2 multilayers were prepared by magnetron sputtering technique on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates at room temperature. By keeping the equivalent TiO 2 layers and varying the deposition time of the Ag layer, proper metal nanograins on TiO 2 planar plane were formed, providing the best tradeoff between the transmittance, sheet resistance and bending ability. The results are validated by numerical simulations that suggest the best match between the deposition time and individual layer thickness. Based on the performed characteristics of TiO 2 /Ag/TiO 2 /PET structures, several flexible light valves are fabricated and characterized. The sheet resistance values of TiO 2 /Ag/TiO 2 /PET remain unchanged over 1000 bending cycles. The measured driving voltage and response time values open great potential of TiO 2 /Ag/TiO 2 /PET for integration into next-generation ITO-free flexible and stretchable devices.