Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals

The temperature-dependent polarization performance of super-twisted nematic liquid crystals (STN-LCs) when used as polarizers has garnered considerable scholarly attention. In this study, the transmittance of an STN-LC cell was measured under incident light wavelengths of 650 nm, 532 nm, and 405 nm...

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Main Authors: Houtong Liu, Bin Wang, Minjuan Mao, Yuanyuan Qian, Dan Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Photonics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/7/683
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author Houtong Liu
Bin Wang
Minjuan Mao
Yuanyuan Qian
Dan Wang
author_facet Houtong Liu
Bin Wang
Minjuan Mao
Yuanyuan Qian
Dan Wang
author_sort Houtong Liu
collection DOAJ
description The temperature-dependent polarization performance of super-twisted nematic liquid crystals (STN-LCs) when used as polarizers has garnered considerable scholarly attention. In this study, the transmittance of an STN-LC cell was measured under incident light wavelengths of 650 nm, 532 nm, and 405 nm over the temperature range of 30 °C to 100 °C. The STN-LC cell was employed both as the sample under test and as an analyzer in a rotational measurement setup to investigate how its polarization properties vary with temperature. The results indicate that the LC cell exhibits the characteristics of a linear polarizer under red light (650 nm) and violet laser (405 nm) across the full temperature range. However, under green laser (532 nm), when the temperature exceeds 60 °C, its extinction ratio is poor, suggesting its unsuitability for polarization applications under such conditions. A birefringence inversion formula was derived using the transmittance difference method, which effectively eliminates the influence of the glass substrates on the measured transmittance of the LC layer. Utilizing this method, a simple optical setup consisting of a polarizer and photodetector was constructed to accurately extract the birefringence of the LC. The birefringence of super-twisted nematic liquid crystal can be obtained by the transmittance difference method, which is low-cost, has a simple optical path, and is convenient for temperature-controlled experimental measurements of the liquid crystal cell. The findings of this study provide methodological support for the precise determination of birefringence in LCs exhibiting linear polarization characteristics.
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spelling doaj-art-d2c5d96a776c41789b4bb3ccbea752a12025-08-20T03:08:13ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322025-07-0112768310.3390/photonics12070683Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid CrystalsHoutong Liu0Bin Wang1Minjuan Mao2Yuanyuan Qian3Dan Wang4School of Microelectronics & Data Science, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics & Data Science, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, ChinaZhejiang Meteorology Science Institute, Hangzhou 310017, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics & Data Science, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics & Data Science, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, ChinaThe temperature-dependent polarization performance of super-twisted nematic liquid crystals (STN-LCs) when used as polarizers has garnered considerable scholarly attention. In this study, the transmittance of an STN-LC cell was measured under incident light wavelengths of 650 nm, 532 nm, and 405 nm over the temperature range of 30 °C to 100 °C. The STN-LC cell was employed both as the sample under test and as an analyzer in a rotational measurement setup to investigate how its polarization properties vary with temperature. The results indicate that the LC cell exhibits the characteristics of a linear polarizer under red light (650 nm) and violet laser (405 nm) across the full temperature range. However, under green laser (532 nm), when the temperature exceeds 60 °C, its extinction ratio is poor, suggesting its unsuitability for polarization applications under such conditions. A birefringence inversion formula was derived using the transmittance difference method, which effectively eliminates the influence of the glass substrates on the measured transmittance of the LC layer. Utilizing this method, a simple optical setup consisting of a polarizer and photodetector was constructed to accurately extract the birefringence of the LC. The birefringence of super-twisted nematic liquid crystal can be obtained by the transmittance difference method, which is low-cost, has a simple optical path, and is convenient for temperature-controlled experimental measurements of the liquid crystal cell. The findings of this study provide methodological support for the precise determination of birefringence in LCs exhibiting linear polarization characteristics.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/7/683super-twisted nematic liquid crystal (STN-LC)transmittance difference methodrotational measurement methodbirefringence
spellingShingle Houtong Liu
Bin Wang
Minjuan Mao
Yuanyuan Qian
Dan Wang
Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals
Photonics
super-twisted nematic liquid crystal (STN-LC)
transmittance difference method
rotational measurement method
birefringence
title Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals
title_full Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals
title_fullStr Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals
title_full_unstemmed Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals
title_short Temperature-Dependent Polarization Characterization and Birefringence Inversion in Super-Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals
title_sort temperature dependent polarization characterization and birefringence inversion in super twisted nematic liquid crystals
topic super-twisted nematic liquid crystal (STN-LC)
transmittance difference method
rotational measurement method
birefringence
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/12/7/683
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