Research Data Leeds Repository

Data for Embossing Reactive Mesogens: A Facile Approach to Polarisation-Independent Liquid Crystal Devices

Wahle, Markus and Snow, Ben and Sargent, Joe and Jones, J. Cliff (2019) Data for Embossing Reactive Mesogens: A Facile Approach to Polarisation-Independent Liquid Crystal Devices. University of Leeds. [Dataset] https://doi.org/10.5518/441

Dataset description

Reactive mesogens (RMs) have found their way into different branches of science and application. They can be processed as standard liquid crystals and can then be polymerised to stabilise their shape and anisotropic properties. Their birefringence is used in optical compensation films while the complex director field is exploited for actuators. However, creating complex shapes while maintaining good alignment is a challenge in these applications. In the present work, the embossing of reactive mesogens is introduced. Embossing is a fast and large-scale method, which allows to form a large variety of structured reactive mesogen devices. To create a polarisation-independent lens, two birefringent Fresnel zone plates (FZPs) are embossed. A lens is formed by assembling the FZPs in a twisted nematic cell and filling the cell with a nematic crystal index matched to the RM. The device can be switched from a non-focusing to a focusing state by applying a small voltage. After characterising the efficiency and beam properties, the method is used to fabricate a switchable multi-level Fresnel zone plate with optical efficiencies beyond 50%. Finally, manufactured polarisation-independent gratings and microlens arrays are presented using the method to illustrate the wide range of applicability.

Keywords:	polarisation-independent devices, liquid crystals, reactive mesogens, embossing
Subjects:	F000 - Physical sciences > F300 - Physics > F360 - Optical physics
Divisions:	Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences > School of Physics and Astronomy
Related resources:	Location Type https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.201801261 Publication
License:	Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Date deposited:	25 Mar 2019 14:02
URI:	http://archive.researchdata.leeds.ac.uk/id/eprint/504
Additional details Additional details Creators: Creators ORCID Other ID Email Primary affiliation Primary affiliation ID Primary affiliation ID type Secondary affiliation Secondary affiliation ID Secondary affiliation ID type Wahle, Markus https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2241-9975 University Of Leeds http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000777 crossref Snow, Ben University Of Leeds http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000777 crossref Sargent, Joe University Of Leeds http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000777 crossref Jones, J. Cliff https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2310-0800 University Of Leeds http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000777 crossref Type of data: Dataset Research funders: Merck KGaA Grant numbers: RG.PHAS.110753 Publication date: 2019 Resource language: English Metadata language: English Research project title: Leeds And Merck Project Publisher: University of Leeds Contact Email Address: M.Wahle@leeds.ac.uk Last Modified: 10 Jun 2020 17:11

Files

Documentation

Readme [945B] Readme [945B] Readme [945B] Visible to: Anyone File name: readme.txt Content type: Documentation Description: Readme Mime-Type: text/plain License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) File size: 945B

Data

Efficiency vs Voltage [36kB] Efficiency vs Voltage [36kB] Efficiency vs Voltage [36kB] Visible to: Anyone File name: Fig4c_Efficiency.xlsx Content type: Data Description: Efficiency of 2-level Fresnel lens Mime-Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) File size: 36kB

Peak Power Density vs Voltage [26kB] Peak Power Density vs Voltage [26kB] Peak Power Density vs Voltage [26kB] Visible to: Anyone File name: Fig5b-d_PeakPowerDensity.xlsx Content type: Data Description: Peak power of spot focused by switchable lens in the on-state Mime-Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) File size: 26kB

Beam Diameter vs Voltage [28kB] Beam Diameter vs Voltage [28kB] Beam Diameter vs Voltage [28kB] Visible to: Anyone File name: Fig5e-g_BeamDiameterFWHM.xlsx Content type: Data Description: Beam diamaters in x and y of spot focused by switchable lens in the on-state Mime-Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) File size: 28kB