Deformation‐Free, Microsecond Electro‐Optic Tuning of Liquid Crystals

Fast (∼10 μs) and deformation‐free electro‐optic tuning of a liquid crystal is reported, achieved by macroscopic alignment and switching of nanosized, pseudo‐nematic domains. The tuning mode can be achieved by photopolymerizing a mesogenic monomer–liquid crystal mixture in the liquid crystal phase, and forming nanosized pores in the polymer matrix. This concept is particularly effective in liquid crystals with spontaneous structure‐forming capabilities: here this concept is applied to a cholesteric liquid crystal and demonstrate scatter‐free tuning of the Bragg reflection band. It can also lead to new device applications such as thin‐film optical amplitude modulators and linear polarization rotators.