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Electro‐Mechano‐Optical (ElMO) Microstructures Fabricated from Reactive Mesogens: A Novel Light Modulating Material
Author(s) -
Cairns Darran R.,
Sibulkin Merwin,
Crawford Gregory P.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
sid symposium digest of technical papers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.351
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 2168-0159
pISSN - 0097-966X
DOI - 10.1889/1.1834127
Subject(s) - birefringence , materials science , electric field , anisotropy , polymerization , liquid crystal , polymer , optoelectronics , phase (matter) , electrode , voltage , optical switch , microstructure , optics , composite material , physics , quantum mechanics
We have manufactured birefringent polymer balls by photo‐polymerizing suspensions of reactive mesogens in the nematic phase. The dielectric and optical anisotropy is captured by photo‐polymerization. The balls are Electro‐Mechano‐Optical (ElMO) in that they undergo a mechanical reorientation in the presence of an applied electric field, and therefore may be useful for display applications. We show that our spheres are suited for both conventional electrode arrangements and in‐plane switching modes. We present our modeling for the switching times and critical switching voltage and show the potential of ElMO materials in electro‐optic applications.