Synthesis of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals for Infrared Modulators

小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目 在材料化学的一般领域和 有机合成和物理有机化学。 虽然 红外（IR）辐射的使用数量不断增长， 高速调制红外辐射所需要的技术是 仍处于婴儿期。 大多数IR调制器是机械式的， 自然，虽然已经做了一些工作，使用固有的慢 液晶光阀。 瑟姆斯博士会 用于非机械电致发光的铁电液晶 光学快门 开发的液晶将是 适用于红外辐射阀，根据 配置，将具有高吞吐量（高达90%），宽 谱带操作（例如，3-5或8 - 14 μ m），高开关 速度（50 μ s）和低功耗（10 μ J/cm 2/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).