Highly tunable magnetic liquid crystals

Abstract

In various embodiments magnetically actuated liquid crystals are provided as well as method of manufacturing such, methods of using the liquid crystals and devices incorporating the liquid crystals. In one non-limiting embodiment the liquid crystals comprise Fe 3 O 4 nanorods where the nanorods are coated with a silica coating.

1 - 91  (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . A method of making a thin film patterned with one or more optical polarizations, said method comprising:
 providing a substrate having deposited thereon a resin containing magnetic nanorods, where said magnetic nanorods are coated with a silica and/or polymer layer and form a stable colloidal dispersion, where said magnetic nanorods function as a liquid crystal that performs optical switching in response to a magnetic field;   applying a magnetic field to said resin to align said magnetic nanorods in all or in one or more regions of said substrate coated with said resin; and   curing/crosslinking said resin in all or in one or more regions of said substrate coated with said resin to fix said magnetic nanorods in a first alignment thereby providing a first optical polarization.   
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising:
 applying a magnetic field to a second region of said substrate to align magnetic nanorods in said second region in an orientation different than said first alignment; and   curing/crosslinking said resin in said second region to fix the magnetic nanorods aligned in the second region in a second alignment to provide a second optical polarization.   
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 92 , further comprising:
 applying a magnetic field to a third region of said substrate to align said magnetic nanorods in said third region in an orientation different than said first alignment and/or said second alignment; and   curing/crosslinking said resin in third second region to fix the magnetic nanorods aligned in the third region in a third alignment to provide a third optical polarization.   
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said method comprises leaving the resin in one or more regions uncured/uncrosslinked so that the magnetic nanorods in said regions reorient when a magnetic field is applied to said film. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said resin is a UV cured resin and said curing/crosslinking by application of UV light to the region that is to be cured/cross-linked. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of bisphenol-A-diglycidyl-ether-diacrylate (B GEDA), polyethylene-glycoldiacrylate (PEGDA), and poly(diethylene-glycol-carbonate):diacrylate (PGCDA). 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said resin is a chemically cured resin and said curing/crosslinking by application of the curing catalyst to the region that is to be cured/cross-linked. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein said catalyst is inkjet nanoprinted on the region(s) to be cured. 
     
     
         100 . A thin film patterned with one or more optical polarizations, said thin film comprising:
 magnetic nanorods, where said magnetic nanorods are coated with a silica and/or polymer layer and form a stable colloidal dispersion, where said magnetic nanorods function as a liquid crystal that performs optical switching in response to a magnetic field, and where the magnetic nanorods are disposed in one or more predetermined orientations at different locations in said thin film.   
     
     
         101 . The thin film of  claim 100 , wherein said film comprises one or more first regions comprising magnetic nanorods aligned in a first alignment providing a first polarization. 
     
     
         102 . The thin film of  claim 101 , wherein said film comprises one or more second regions comprising magnetic nanorods aligned in a second alignment different from said first alignment providing a second polarization different from said first polarization. 
     
     
         103 . The thin film of  claim 102 , wherein said film comprises one or more third regions comprising magnetic nanorods aligned in a third alignment different from said first and/or said second alignment providing a third polarization different from said first and/or said second polarization. 
     
     
         104 . The thin film of  claim 100 , wherein said film comprises one or more regions wherein the magnetic nanorods in said regions are free to reorient when a magnetic field is applied to said film. 
     
     
         105 . The thin film of  claim 100 , wherein said film is made according to the method of  claim 92 .