ABSTRACT We demonstrate that two-photon polymerisation-based direct laser writing (TPP-DLW) is a very convenient technique for the fabrication of tunable liquid crystal (LC) based optical diffractive structures. The underlying TPP-DLW… Click to show full abstract
ABSTRACT We demonstrate that two-photon polymerisation-based direct laser writing (TPP-DLW) is a very convenient technique for the fabrication of tunable liquid crystal (LC) based optical diffractive structures. The underlying TPP-DLW scaffold is composed of out-of-plane oriented polymeric ribbons with surface relief gratings on their side walls that induce parallel alignment of the adjacent LC medium. With the aid of such scaffolds infiltrated with the standard nematic liquid crystalline mixture E7, we prepared optical transmission gratings whose diffraction efficiency can be tuned with electric or magnetic fields. We report on an experimental and theoretical comparison between both types of tuning mechanisms. Graphical Abstract
               
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