▪ Abstract  The formation of switchable holographic gratings from polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs) allows for the development of switchable transmissive and reflective diffractive optics. These structures are created by the coherent interference of laser radiation within a syrup containing photoreactive monomer, initiator, and liquid crystal. Local differences in photopolymerization rates induce phase separation of discrete LC domains to occur periodically commensurate with the period of the interference pattern. These spatially periodic gratings of nano-scale sized LC domains can be formed on grating length scales ranging from 100 nm to microns depending on the optics of fabrication. True Bragg gratings are formed with spacings typically less than 1 μm. Owing to the refractive profile generated by this periodic two-phase structure, diffraction of light occurs. Electrical switching of the average director orientation within the LC domains results in a modulation of diffracted radiation. This technology serves as the basis for the fabrication of switchable diffractive optical elements. We review the current state-of-the-art of H-PDLC technology including the materials used to date, the resulting electro-optical properties, the importance of grating formation dynamic measurements, and structure/property relationships developed using solid state morphology techniques.

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We report electrical switching of the diffraction efficiency in volume Bragg gratings written holographically in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). Scanning electron microscopy confirms the volume nature of the gratings and shows that they consist of periodic PDLC planes. The diffraction efficiency can be switched from a high value (∼50%) to a value near zero at fields ∼11 V/μm.

Holographic reflection gratings in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs) were formed by thiol−ene photopolymerization. Using UV laser light and a single prism, electrically switchable reflection gratings in blue, green, yellow, and red colors were fabricated. Results indicate that thiol−ene polymers function as better hosts for H-PDLC than multifunctional acrylate as matrixes. These differences are the result of a much different temporal structure development caused by fundamental differences in the polymerization propagation mechanism:  a step-growth addition mechanism for the thiol−ene system compared to a chain-growth addition mechanism in multifunctional acrylates. Morphology studies by TEM support these conclusions, as striking differences in droplet shape and uniformity are observed. Discrete nematic droplets with a nearly spherical shape were seen. Thiol−ene polymers offer lower switching fields, higher diffraction efficiencies, better optical properties, and higher thermal stabilities. The response times of the thiol−ene gratings were five times slower than those of acrylates.

Phototuning of more than 2000 nm is demonstrated in an azobenzene‐based cholesteric liquid crystal (azo‐CLC) consisting of a high‐helical‐twisting‐power, axially chiral bis(azo) molecule (QL76). Phototuning range and rate are compared as a function of chiral dopant concentration, light intensity, and thickness. CLCs composed of QL76 maintain the CLC phase regardless of intensity or duration of exposure. The time necessary for the complete restoration of the original spectral properties (position, bandwidth, baseline transmission, and reflectivity) of QL76‐based CLC is dramatically reduced from days to a few minutes by polymer stabilization of the CLC helix.