Dual-mode control in polymer-stabilized dual-frequency cholesteric windows — passive thermal tuning and multistable states

Hsin-Che Lee^1*

¹Institute of Lighting and Energy Photonics, College of Photonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Guiren Dist., Taiwan
²Institute of Imaging and Biomedical Photonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Guiren Dist., Taiwan

* Presenter:Hsin-Che Lee, email:hsinzhe.pt13@nycu.edu.tw

Driven by the growing need for dimmable smart windows that automatically respond to ambient temperature, we examine how thermal variations modulate optical transmittance in a polymer-stabilized dual-frequency cholesteric liquid-crystal (PSDFCLC) platform. The system incorporates a thermoresponsive chiral dopant capable of reversing handedness, while the dual-frequency host provides frequency-dependent dielectric anisotropy that can be positive or negative. Owing to the polymer network, the device preserves its optical state after the driving voltage is removed, demonstrating intrinsic multistability. By judiciously selecting the amplitude and frequency of the applied field, the transmittance can be tuned to the optimal or user-specified level across different temperatures, all under low-voltage operation. These attributes enable multiple practical operating modes and afford a high degree of customization for smart-window applications.

Keywords: Dual-frequency Liquid Crystal, Cholesteric Liquid Crystal, Thermoresponsive Chiral Dopant, Polymer-stabilized Liquid Crystal, Smart Windows