Photorefractivity in liquid crystals doped with electron donors and acceptors

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:215143

Wiederrecht, G P ^[1]; Yoon, B A ^[2]; Wasielewski, M R ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
2. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)

The photoconductive and nonlinear optical characteristics of photorefractive nematic liquid crystals with a variety of dopants are discussed. The liquid crystals are 4`-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile (5CB) and N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA). We report the significant improvement of photorefractivity of these systems by systematic addition of chromophores that provide additional absorption and are easily oxidized which produces charge generation. Contrary to previous studies, we show that charge transport in these materials most likely occurs through diffusion of reduced 5CB or MBBA, rather than oxidation of these materials. Easily reduced chromophores are also added to enhance the charge transport characteristics of the liquid crystals. Large diffraction efficiencies and two-beam coupling gain are observed.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 215143
• Report Number(s): CONF-950801--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AMINES
BINDING ENERGY
CHARGE TRANSPORT
LIQUID CRYSTALS
NITRILES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
REFRACTIVE INDEX