SBIR Phase I: Mesogenic Molding Process for Optical Devices

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将开发基于液晶（LC）材料的复合有序薄膜的工艺技术，该技术将对无源和有源LC光学器件的性能产生重大影响。 这些设备包括超快光信号处理和高密度光存储，仅举几例。工艺技术概念简单。 配制交联液晶和非反应性液晶的共混物，然后使用常规技术制备成膜。 然后将非反应性组分从膜中除去以产生纳米结构的介晶“模具”，其保留一些LC样有序。 如果需要，可以将额外的组件添加到模具中，从而创建具有定制的机械、化学和光学特性的设备。 因此，该技术可用于克服LC材料的固有缺点，并改善许多LC光学器件的性能、耐用性和适用性。 本研究的目标是制备低成本、高效率的反射型宽带紫外偏振膜。 该技术使得有可能实现这样的膜，即使所有目前可用的LC材料在UV光谱范围内表现出显著的吸收。 这种复合有序膜的工艺技术将在广泛的光学器件中立即获得商业应用，包括有源和无源，因为它将显着提高性能。 改进可以包括更好的耐温性、更宽的波长范围、降低的化学敏感性或这些的任何组合。 采用该工艺生产的第一个应用是紫外线偏振膜，其用途广泛：手性药物开发、光学元件、液晶显示器，甚至皮肤保护。 紫外线偏振膜的预期收入仅在第一年就可达到450万美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a process technology for composite ordered films based on liquid crystal (LC) materials that will have a significant impact on the performance of LC optical devices, both passive and active. These devices include ultrafast optical signal processing and high-density optical storage, just to name a few. The process technology is simple in concept. A blend of cross-linkable liquid crystals and non-reactive liquid crystals is formulated, and then prepared into a film using usual techniques. The non-reactive components are then removed from the film to create a nano-structured, mesogenic "mold" that retains some of the LC-like ordering. If desired, additional components can be added into the mold, creating a device with tailored mechanical, chemical, and optical properties. The technology can thus be used to overcome inherent shortcomings of LC materials and improve the performance, durability, and applicability of many LC optical devices. In the proposed program, the goal is to fabricate low-cost, high-efficiency, reflective broadband UV polarizing films. This technology makes it possible to realize such films even though all currently available LC materials exhibit substantial absorption over the UV spectral range. This process technology for composite ordered films will have immediate commercial applications in a wide range of optical devices, both active and passive, as it will dramatically improve performance. The improvements may include better temperature resistance, wider wavelength range, reduced chemical sensitivity, or any combinations of these. The first application to be produced with this process, UV polarizing films, has a wide range of uses: chiral drug development, optical components, liquid crystal displays, and even skin protection. Anticipated revenues for UV polarizing films could reach $4.5 million in its first year alone.