Phys.org May 22, 2024
Ideally, on-demand omnidirectional wavelength control is highly desirable from the perspective of wavelength-tuning freedom. However, despite numerous previous research efforts on tunable chiral liquid crystals (CLCs) structural colors, only mono-directional wavelength tuning toward shorter wavelengths has been employed in most studies to date. Researchers in South Korea demonstrated the ideally desired omnidirectional wavelength control toward longer and shorter wavelengths with significantly improved tunability over a broadband wavelength range. They achieved simultaneous and omnidirectional structural color-tuning control by using areal expanding and contractive strain control of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with chiral liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs). According to the researchers their work on omnidirectional wavelength control enhances the achievable tuning freedom and versatility, making it applicable to a broad range of high-functional photonic applications… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
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Mechanism of omnidirectional wavelength tuning using an electoactive stretchable CLCE. Credit: Light: Science & Applications volume 13, Article number: 114 (2024)