Integrated, photoactive-liquid crystal modulators characterised by optical, multi-parameter analysis

本项目主要研究自调节光伏-液晶调制器的制备和实验特性。我们的目标是开发能够在降低或没有外部电压的情况下运行的调制器。这一发展中的关键要素将是改编适用于标准液晶单元的当前版本的液晶分析仪，以提供由多层聚合物和液晶薄膜组成的调制器及其核心参数的全面表征。该项目的另一个目的也是了解光伏液晶单元的基础科学，其具有集成的光敏层的结构的作用，以及它们的吸收和透射率对入射光的强度和波长的依赖。研究任务将包括研究电荷产生和迁移对调制器长期稳定性的影响，确定最佳液晶参数和电极几何形状，以开发和最大限度地利用光伏层产生的相对较小的电压的好处。

This project focuses on the fabrication and the experimental characterisation of self-regulating photovoltaic-liquid crystal modulators. The goal is to develop the modulators that can operate with reduced or without an external voltage. The critical element in such development will be to adapt the current version of the liquid crystal analyser, suitable for standard, liquid crystal cells, to provide a comprehensive characterisation of the modulators that consist of multi-layer polymer and liquid crystal films, and their core parameters.The other aim of this project is also to understand the basic science of photovoltaic liquid crystal cells, the role of its structure with integrated, photosensitive layers and the dependence of their absorption and transmission on the intensity and wavelength of the incident light. The research tasks will include the investigation of the effect of charge generation and migration on the long-term stability of the modulators, determining the optimal liquid crystal parameters and electrode geometries to exploit and maximise the benefits of the relatively small voltage produced by the photovoltaic layer.