Broadband reflective liquid crystal films prepared by doping fluorescent dyes-loaded nanofiber membranes

ABSTRACT

Here, a broadband reflective CLC film doped with a nanofiber membrane loaded with fluorescent dyes is proposed. This film synergistically adjusts the reflection bandwidth and fluorescence colour. The broadening of the reflection band of CLC films is achieved through the UV absorption of fluorescent dyes, which causes a non-uniform distribution of UV intensity in the liquid crystal cells. Consequently, this leads to different diffusion rates of the photoinduced molecules. By adjusting the doping content of fluorescent dyes in the CLC composite system, the reflection bandwidth and fluorescence colour of the liquid crystal can be easily adjusted simultaneously. Furthermore, the study on the value of reflection bandwidth for different concentrations of UV polymerisable monomers, chiral molecules in CLC, and experimental conditions during polymerisation shows that there exists an optimal concentration and conditions for broadening the reflection wavelength of CLC doping. Additionally, the doped CLC films can block NIR light and exhibit a significant temperature reduction when exposed to NIR light irradiation. This strategy provides new insights into the preparation of advanced optical devices and energy-efficient devices.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• CLC film
• fluorescent dyes
• nanofiber membrane
• reflection bandwidth
• near-infrared shielding

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education [Programme No. 22JP100], Science and technology plan project of Xi’an [No. 22GXFW0150], the Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi, the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 51971182], the Science and Technology Projects of Suzhou City [SYC2022043 and SYG202025], and the Qing Lan Project of Jiangsu Province [2022].