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Proposal Title
Photonic devices on liquid crystals and new liquid crystal materials for them
Proposals Acronym
PLCM
Thematic Priority: nanosciences_nanotechnologies_materials_and_new_production_technologies
Sub-thematic Priority: materials
Thematic Priority 1: nanosciences_nanotechnologies_materials_and_new_production_technologies
Sub-thematic Priority 1: materials
Proposal Abstract
There is a need for the elaboration of new liquid crystal (LC) materials with improved performance for
actual operating devices and displays (contrast, speed, spectral range) and to give the possibility to
create new photonic devices such as broad-range filters and shifter for visible and infrared light, or for
resonators for low (KHz) and high (GHz) field frequency. New families and classes of liquid crystals
will be designed, prepared and characterized and multicomponent mixtures and/or composites will be
formulated and blended to optimize them for applications. The liquid crystal having very high optical
anisotropy (ne>>no) in the visible region and high optical anisotropy in the infrared region, very high
dielectric anisotropy at low field frequency and high dielectric anisotropy at high field frequency,
fulfilling the condition e||>>e^ at low frequency and e^>e|| at high frequency will be investigated. LC
materials changing from De>0 to De<0 at low (KHz) as well high frequency (MHz) will be designed.
The above mentioned materials, in the form of multicomponent nematic mixtures and polymeric
nanocomposites, will be tested in model devices. The following devices may be developing from the
proposed material. 1. fast operating dual frequency addressed displays 2. phase shifter for 1550 nm
light for telecommunication purposes 3. GHz tunable resonator for radar systems 4. Two and three
dimension holographic visualization systems for comparing and identification of an object. For
practical modeling an object will be chosen after the final creation of the research consortium.
Cooperation with other consortia which are interested in obtaining the materials elaborated in the
project for the realization of similar or other devices will be undertaken.
Proposal Description
Liquid crystal and liquid crystal composes with the above mentioned properties are at the beginning
stages of development. LC materials with better chemical stability and a broader range of tunable
physical and optic parameter are desired. Such material will give input towards the creation of new
devices.
Proposal Objectives
New materials with new properties will be obtained and new knowledge about the properties of soft
matter will be collect. Further miniaturized of new devices will be designed with improved performance
and functionality.
Proposed Method
New materials will be designed then experimentally prepared; methods of their preparation giving
good yield and purity will be simultaneously developed. The material will be characterized by the
measurement of different physical, optic and electrooptical parameters and tested in model devices.
Performance of devices will be characterize and improved. Technology of model production will be
tested and improved.
Proposal Added Value
Knowledge between chemical structure of compounds and the mesogenic properties, physical and
electrooptical properties will be enhanced and features of soft materials will be better recognize. The
project is well suited to the training of student in modern materials, and new material for photonic
application will be developed.
Proposal Impact
New devices, useful in different areas of techniques, may be designed and constructed. A new small
spin-off company for their production may be created. It will give an input to increase the high
technology level of the country and increase the competitiveness of Europe with East Asian countries
and the US for the creation new products.
Role: Partner
Research Group Resources Description
Our research group includes 2 professors, 4 experienced researchers, 2 postdocs, 3 PhD students
and 5 technicians. The team have been working since 1975 on the synthesis of liquid-crystalline
compounds, the characterisation of their phase transitions studies by calorimetric (DSC) and thermal
microscopic methods, and the identification of their phases by miscibility, microscopic, X-ray and
GCMS methods. We have synthesized about 2000 new LC compounds, especially new classes of
isothiocyanates and the recently prepared 45° antiferroelectric and ferroelectric smectics materials.