New tunable device goes from transparent to mirrorlike with electrical jolt

Published Oct. 15, 2014
By Air Force Research Laboratory
Materials & Manufacturing Directorate

WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE -- A liquid-crystal device developed in AFRL can change from transparent to mirrorlike by applying voltage, a technology that could lead to smart windows that can block light or allow it to pass through, its developers say.

Dr. Timothy White of AFRL's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and colleagues made the device using cholesteric liquid crystals (CLC), which can reflect a broader range of light wavelengths and become fully reflective as applied voltage is increased.

The team made the CLCs using commercially available equipment.

Read the full article here: http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/web/2014/10/Liquid-Crystal-Goes-Transparent-Mirrorlike.html