Graphene oxide doped PDLC films for all optically controlled light valve structures

Abstract

We study the effect of graphene oxide (GrO) on the switching voltage of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC). The threshold voltage decreases with addition of GrO nanoparticles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) supported that the size of LC droplets in GrO-doped PDLC increase in comparison with non-doped one. PDLC:GrO layer was combined with Bi12SiO20 (BSO) inorganic substrate into a hybrid structure and based on the surface activated photorefractive phenomena typical for BSO, it allows the opaque-transparent states to be all optically controlled, operating faster and requiring less intensity due to the GrO addition in PDLC.