Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling
Abstract The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic liquids incorporate to the functional combination of fluidity, processability and anisotropic optical properties of nematic liquids, an astonishing range of physical properties derived from the phase polarity. Among them, the remarkably large va...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38749-2 |
| _version_ | 1797817893264556032 |
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| author | Nerea Sebastián Matija Lovšin Brecht Berteloot Natan Osterman Andrej Petelin Richard J. Mandle Satoshi Aya Mingjun Huang Irena Drevenšek-Olenik Kristiaan Neyts Alenka Mertelj |
| author_facet | Nerea Sebastián Matija Lovšin Brecht Berteloot Natan Osterman Andrej Petelin Richard J. Mandle Satoshi Aya Mingjun Huang Irena Drevenšek-Olenik Kristiaan Neyts Alenka Mertelj |
| author_sort | Nerea Sebastián |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic liquids incorporate to the functional combination of fluidity, processability and anisotropic optical properties of nematic liquids, an astonishing range of physical properties derived from the phase polarity. Among them, the remarkably large values of second order optical susceptibility encourage to exploit these new materials for non-linear photonic applications. Here we show that photopatterning of the alignment layer can be used to structure polarization patterns. To do so, we take advantage of the flexoelectric effect and design splay structures that geometrically define the polarization direction. We demonstrate the creation of periodic polarization structures and the possibility of guiding polarization by embedding splay structures in uniform backgrounds. The demonstrated capabilities of polarization patterning, open a promising new route for the design of ferroelectric nematic based photonic structures and their exploitation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:00:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-23ea2dfde83049a187b9aec0a380f22f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:00:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-23ea2dfde83049a187b9aec0a380f22f2023-05-28T11:21:49ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-05-0114111010.1038/s41467-023-38749-2Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric couplingNerea Sebastián0Matija Lovšin1Brecht Berteloot2Natan Osterman3Andrej Petelin4Richard J. Mandle5Satoshi Aya6Mingjun Huang7Irena Drevenšek-Olenik8Kristiaan Neyts9Alenka Mertelj10Jožef Stefan InstituteJožef Stefan InstituteLiquid Crystals and Photonics Group, ELIS Department, Ghent UniversityJožef Stefan InstituteJožef Stefan InstituteSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsSouth China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST), School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of TechnologySouth China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST), School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of TechnologyJožef Stefan InstituteLiquid Crystals and Photonics Group, ELIS Department, Ghent UniversityJožef Stefan InstituteAbstract The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic liquids incorporate to the functional combination of fluidity, processability and anisotropic optical properties of nematic liquids, an astonishing range of physical properties derived from the phase polarity. Among them, the remarkably large values of second order optical susceptibility encourage to exploit these new materials for non-linear photonic applications. Here we show that photopatterning of the alignment layer can be used to structure polarization patterns. To do so, we take advantage of the flexoelectric effect and design splay structures that geometrically define the polarization direction. We demonstrate the creation of periodic polarization structures and the possibility of guiding polarization by embedding splay structures in uniform backgrounds. The demonstrated capabilities of polarization patterning, open a promising new route for the design of ferroelectric nematic based photonic structures and their exploitation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38749-2 |
| spellingShingle | Nerea Sebastián Matija Lovšin Brecht Berteloot Natan Osterman Andrej Petelin Richard J. Mandle Satoshi Aya Mingjun Huang Irena Drevenšek-Olenik Kristiaan Neyts Alenka Mertelj Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling Nature Communications |
| title | Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling |
| title_full | Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling |
| title_fullStr | Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling |
| title_short | Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling |
| title_sort | polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38749-2 |
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