Multidimensional Photopatterning of Heterogeneous Liquid‐Crystal Superstructures Toward Higher‐Level Information Optics

Soft matter, featuring superior flexibility and intriguing tunability, has shown enormous potential in sensors, soft robots, and light tailoring. However, limited by its inherent structural complexity, soft matter remains uncompetitive in multidimensional and high-density information optics. Herein, a heterogeneous liquid-crystal (LC) superstructure composed of interlocked nematic and chiral LCs is designed to achieve higher-dimensional light control. Optically multidimensional photopatterning with programmable UV polarization and dosage is proposed to precisely customize both transverse and longitudinal LC arrangements, bringing in a wide range of light-matter interactions within a single micrometer-thick film. The constructed heterogeneous LC superstructure not only enables simultaneous near-field full-color printing and far-field full-color holography but also boasts brightness controllability and polarization selectivity. This low-cost photonic structure enables a high information density of ≈1.6 million hybrid-dimensional optical data per square millimeter, unlocking new capabilities in optical storage, display, and encryption. This work creates an ingenious bond between advanced photopatterning technologies and higher-level optical informatics, and pioneers soft-matter-mediated full-dimensional optics.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Materials
Published
2025-05-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202506778
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.71

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Multidimensional Photopatterning of Heterogeneous Liquid‐Crystal Superstructures Toward Higher‐Level Information Optics

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article

Multidimensional Photopatterning of Heterogeneous Liquid‐Crystal Superstructures Toward Higher‐Level Information Optics

Yanqing Lu, Wei Hu, Yi‐Heng Zhang, Si‐Jia Liu, Shi‐Jun Ge, Lin Zhu, Yiming Wang, Wen Chen, Rui Sun, Dong Zhu, Ding Shihua, Peng Chen
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Soft matter, featuring superior flexibility and intriguing tunability, has shown enormous potential in sensors, soft robots, and light tailoring. However, limited by its inherent structural complexity, soft matter remains uncompetitive in multidimensional and high-density information optics. Herein, a heterogeneous liquid-crystal (LC) superstructure composed of interlocked nematic and chiral LCs is designed to achieve higher-dimensional light control. Optically multidimensional photopatterning with programmable UV polarization and dosage is proposed to precisely customize both transverse and longitudinal LC arrangements, bringing in a wide range of light-matter interactions within a single micrometer-thick film. The constructed heterogeneous LC superstructure not only enables simultaneous near-field full-color printing and far-field full-color holography but also boasts brightness controllability and polarization selectivity. This low-cost photonic structure enables a high information density of ≈1.6 million hybrid-dimensional optical data per square millimeter, unlocking new capabilities in optical storage, display, and encryption. This work creates an ingenious bond between advanced photopatterning technologies and higher-level optical informatics, and pioneers soft-matter-mediated full-dimensional optics.

Advanced MaterialsVol. 37(37)
Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures (CN), Nanjing University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Government of Jiangsu Province, Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
1.71
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