Synthesis of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals for Infrared Modulators

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目是在材料化学的一般领域以及有机合成和物理有机化学的子领域。虽然红外辐射的用途不断增加，但红外辐射高速调制所需的技术仍处于初级阶段。大多数红外调制器本质上是机械的，尽管一些工作已经使用固有的慢向列型液晶光学阀完成。Thurmes博士将开发用于非机械电光百叶窗的铁电液晶。所开发的液晶将适用于红外辐射阀，根据所使用的配置，将具有高吞吐量（高达90%），宽频谱带操作（例如，3-5或8- 14um），高开关速度（50us）和低功耗（10uj /cm2/开关）。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the general area of materials chemistry and in the subfields of organic synthesis and physical organic chemistry. Although the number of uses for infrared (IR) radiation is constantly growing, the technology needed for high-speed modulation of IR radiation is still in a state of infancy. Most IR modulators are mechanical in nature, although some work has been done using inherently slow nematic liquid crystal optical valves. Dr. Thurmes will develop ferroelectric liquid crystals for use in non-mechanical electro- optic shutters. The liquid crystals which are developed will be suitable for use in an IR radiation valve which, depending on the configuration used, will have high throughput (up to 90%), wide spectral-band operation (e.g., 3-5 or 8-l4 um), high switching speeds (50us), and low power consumption (l0uJ/cm2/switching).