Control of the optical properties of liquid crystal-infiltrated inverse opal structures using photo irradiation and/or an electric field

Tunable photonic band gap crystals were prepared by the infiltration of photoresponsive liquid crystals into inverse opal structure films. The changes in optical properties by using light irradiation and/or application of electric field were evaluated using the reflection or transmission spectra. The materials could store and display images that were created by the light irradiation through a photo mask The patterning limit was reached at a width of about 50 μm. In addition, we achieved the control of their optical properties by the application of an electric field. Because the state induced by the electric field is different from that engendered by a photoinduced phase transition, it is now possible to switch between three states by a combination of these two techniques. The materials that we have developed have possibilities for practical applications in optical devices.