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Natural sciences
- Photonics, optoelectronics and optical communications
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Engineering and technology
- Photonics, light and lighting
- Functional materials
Diffractive optical elements with high efficiency can be used for extended reality displays or switchable optical interconnects. The combination of liquid crystals with patterned photoalignment makes it possible to define structures with the required optical functionalities in an accessible and effective way. A very high optical efficiency can be obtained with these kind of micrometer thin flat optical components. Through a polymerization process, the liquid crystal layers deposited by spin coating or inkjet printing can be transformed into solid films. Such diffractive films can easily be integrated with curved substrates, multilayer structures or in a switchable liquid crystal components. The aim of this project is the technological development, experimental characterization and numerical simulation of polymerized diffractive liquid crystal components and their integration in technological applications.