Electrically tunable UV–visible modulation and voltage-controlled quantum dot emission via polymer network liquid crystals
Source abstract
Abstract
Dynamic modulation of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light is important for smart windows, adaptive photonics, and emerging display technologies. Here we report a vertically aligned polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) platform that enables electrically tunable UV–visible light control with high optical clarity and low operating voltage. Using a negative dielectric anisotropy liquid crystal and optimized UV polymerization, the PNLC device exhibits high transparency in the field-off state (~83% transmittance with ~1.5% haze) and switches to a strongly scattering state (~90% haze) under applied electric fields. Electro-optical switching begins at ~1.5 V μm-1 and saturates near ~3.4 V μm-1, with attenuation governed by field-induced refractive-index mismatch rather than intrinsic absorption. By integrating the PNLC shutter with InP/ZnSe/ZnS QD/NOA composite layers, we demonstrate electrical modulation of quantum dot (QD) photoluminescence (PL) through excitation gating. Green and red QDs emit at ~530 and ~630 nm and show reversible intensity modulation with high modulation depth (~92–97%). The device also exhibits millisecond-scale switching and stable operation over repeated cycles. This architecture establishes a quantum dot liquid crystal display (QD-LCD) concept, offering a pathway toward high-brightness, long-lifetime, and low-voltage photonic and display systems.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Liquid Crystal Research Advancements · Advanced Materials and Mechanics · Nonlinear Photonic Systems
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (36)
Show source-provided references
1. Khandelwal, H., Schenning, A. P. H. J. & Debije, M. G. Infrared regulating smart window based on organic materials. Adv. Energy Mater. 7, 1602209 (2017).10.1002/aenm.201602209 ↗
2. Liang, X. et al. Dual-band modulation of visible and near-infrared light transmittance in an all-solution-processed hybrid micro-nano composite film. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 9, 40810–40819 (2017).10.1021/acsami.7b11582 ↗
3. Zhang, S. et al. Amorphous and porous tungsten oxide films for fast-switching dual-band electrochromic smart windows. Adv. Opt. Mater. 11, 2202115 (2023).10.1002/adom.202202115 ↗
4. Wang, S. et al. Scalable thermochromic smart windows with passive radiative cooling regulation. Science 374, 1501–1504 (2021).10.1126/science.abg0291 ↗
5. Aburas, M. et al. Thermochromic smart window technologies for building application: a review. Appl. Energy 255, 113522 (2019).10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113522 ↗
6. Granqvist, C. G. Electrochromic devices. J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 25, 2907–2912 (2005).10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2005.03.162 ↗
7. Vergaz, R., Pena, J. M. S., Barrios, D., Pérez, I. & Torres, J. C. Electrooptical behaviour and control of a suspended particle device. Opto-Electron. Rev. 15, 154–158 (2007).10.2478/s11772-007-0013-9 ↗
8. Lim, Y. J. et al. Haze-suppressed wideband light shutter from near ultraviolet to infrared rays utilizing electrophoretic carbon black particles. Small 20, 2305531 (2024).10.1002/smll.202305531 ↗
9. Lim, Y. J., Kang, M., Jeon, H. S., Kim, M. S. & Lee, S. H. Low-temperature processable transparent liquid crystal light shutter. J. Mol. Liq. 368, 120823 (2022).10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120823 ↗
10. Wang, J. et al. Three-dimensional macroporous photonic crystal enhanced photon collection for quantum dot-based luminescent solar concentrator. Nano Energy 67, 104217 (2020).10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104217 ↗
11. Ahmad, K., Song, G. & Kim, H. Fabrication of tungsten oxide/graphene quantum dot (WO3@GQD) thin films on indium tin oxide-based glass and flexible substrates for the construction of electrochromic devices for smart window applications. ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng. 10, 11948–11957 (2022).10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c03229 ↗
12. Patekari, M.D., Ramadas, A., Yun, M., Lee, S.H. & Kim, M. Photoluminescent UV light modulation via anisometric carbon nanodots for UV–visible shutter and UV sensor. Adv. Funct. Mater. 36, e14787 (2026).10.1002/adfm.202514787 ↗
13. Coates, D. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals. J. Mater. Chem. 5, 2063–2072 (1995).10.1039/jm9950502063 ↗
14. Kim, M. S., Lee, D. Y., Jung, H. Y. & Lee, S. H. Superior photoluminescence of quantum dot displays via organic-inorganic composite scatterers. Compos. B Eng. 278, 111425 (2024).10.1016/j.compositesb.2024.111425 ↗
15. Kim, M. S. et al. Field-induced structural transitions in liquid crystal microemulsions. Adv. Opt. Mater. 10, 2200563 (2022).10.1002/adom.202200563 ↗
16. Luo, L. et al. Recent progress on preparation strategies of liquid crystal smart windows. Crystals 12, 1426 (2022).10.3390/cryst12101426 ↗
17. Zhou, Y. & Li, G. Recent progress in liquid crystal-based smart windows with low driving voltage and high contrast. Photonics 12, 819 (2025).10.3390/photonics12080819 ↗
18. Shen, W. & Li, G. Recent progress in liquid crystal-based smart windows: materials, structures, and design. Laser Photon. Rev. 17, 2200207 (2023).10.1002/lpor.202200207 ↗
19. Zhang, H. et al. Simultaneous light-triggered formation of polymer networks and enhancement of electrohydrodynamic instabilities in liquid crystals for versatile energy-saving smart windows. Adv. Funct. Mater. 35, 2414618 (2025).10.1002/adfm.202414618 ↗
20. Wang, H. et al. Electrically controllable microstructures and dynamic light scattering properties of liquid crystals with negative dielectric anisotropy. RSC Adv. 5, 33489–33495 (2015).10.1039/C5RA02516H ↗
21. Wen, C.-H., Wu, B., Gauza, S. & Wu, S.-T. Vertical alignment of high birefringence and negative dielectric anisotropic liquid crystals for projection displays. In Proc. SPIE Liquid Crystal Materials, Devices, and Applications XI, 61350U, 204–212 (2006).10.1117/12.647153 ↗
22. Lee, J.-H. et al. Enhanced contrast ratio and viewing angle of polymer-stabilized liquid crystal via refractive index matching between liquid crystal and polymer network. Opt. Express 21, 26914–26920 (2013).10.1364/OE.21.026914 ↗
23. Wang, J. et al. Normally transparent tribo-induced smart window. ACS Nano 14, 3630–3639 (2020).10.1021/acsnano.0c00107 ↗
24. Roh, J., Park, Y. S., Lim, J. & Klimov, V. I. Optically pumped colloidal-quantum-dot lasing in LED-like devices with an integrated optical cavity. Nat. Commun. 11, 271 (2020). -.10.1038/s41467-019-14014-3 ↗
25. Morozov, S. et al. Electrical control of single-photon emission in highly charged individual colloidal quantum dots. Sci. Adv. 6, eabb1821 (2020).10.1126/sciadv.abb1821 ↗
26. Erno, Z., Yildiz, I., Gorodetsky, B., Raymo, F. M. & Branda, N. R. Optical control of quantum dot luminescence via photoisomerization of a surface-coordinated, cationic dithienylethene. Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 9, 249–253 (2010).10.1039/b9pp00115h ↗
27. Uppala, V. V. S. et al. Ligand exchange and binding at the surface of PbS quantum dots quantified using multimodal magnetic resonance. ACS Nano 19, 27246–27258 (2025).10.1021/acsnano.5c03943 ↗
28. Nandiyanto, A. B. D., Oktiani, R. & Ragadhita, R. How to read and interpret FTIR spectroscope of organic material. Indonesian J. Sci. Technol. 4, 97–118 (2019).10.17509/ijost.v4i1.15806 ↗
29. Thistlethwaite, P. J., Gee, M. L. & Wilson, D. Diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopic studies of the adsorption of oleate/oleic acid onto zirconia. Langmuir 12, 6487–6491 (1996).10.1021/la9603939 ↗
30. Sukharevska, N. et al. Scalable PbS quantum dot solar cell production by blade coating from stable inks. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13, 5195–5207 (2021).10.1021/acsami.0c18204 ↗
31. Lim, Y. J. et al. Polyimide-free vertical alignment in a binary mixture consisting of nematic liquid crystal and reactive mesogen: pretilt modulation via two-step polymerization. J. Mol. Liq. 340, 117302 (2021).10.1016/j.molliq.2021.117302 ↗
32. Wang, Y. et al. Patterning technologies of quantum dots for color-conversion micro-LED display applications. Nanoscale 17, 1764–1789 (2025).10.1039/D4NR03925D ↗
33. Fan, X. et al. Brightened bicomponent perovskite nanocomposite based on förster resonance energy transfer for micro-LED displays. Adv. Mater. 35, 2300834 (2023).10.1002/adma.202300834 ↗
34. Jing, Y. et al. Photolithographic fabrication of high-resolution micro-QLEDs towards color-conversion microdisplay. Light Sci. Appl. 14, 370 (2025).10.1038/s41377-025-02000-y ↗
35. Zeng, Q. et al. Surface stabilization of colloidal perovskite nanocrystals via multi-amine chelating ligands. ACS Energy Lett. 7, 1963–1970 (2022).10.1021/acsenergylett.2c00786 ↗
36. Zeng, Q. et al. A hierarchical shell locks and stabilizes perovskite nanocrystals with near-unity quantum yield. Science 391, eady1370 (2026).