Concurrent utilization of monolayer graphene as the planar-alignment layers and the transparent conductive electrodes in electro-optic liquid crystal devices
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsRajratan Basu, Daniel Kinnamon, Christopher M. Spillmann, Jakub Kolacz, Jesse A. Frantz, Jason D. Myers
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Abstract
A graphene and liquid crystal device comprising a substrate, a layer of graphene on the substrate, and a layer of liquid crystal on the layer of graphene. A graphene and liquid crystal device wherein the layer of graphene is an alignment layer and an electrode for a liquid crystal device.
Claims6
A graphene and liquid crystal device wherein a layer of graphene is an alignment layer and an electrode for the liquid crystal device made from the steps of:
- providing a substrate;
- depositing a layer of graphene on the substrate;
- depositing a layer of liquid crystals on the layer of graphene;
- aligning the molecules of the layer of liquid crystal and the layer of graphene;
- creating π-π electron stacking;
- heating the graphene and liquid crystal device;
- cooling the graphene and liquid crystal device;
- wherein the layer of liquid crystals comprised liquid crystals in the isotropic phase before the step of heating the graphene and liquid crystal device, and
- wherein the layer of liquid crystals comprised liquid crystals in the nematic phase after the step of cooling the graphene and liquid crystal device a uniform planar aligned state of the molecules of the layer of liquid crystal;
- wherein the affinity of phenyl rings with one another comprises π-π stacking and configured to drive alignment of the layer of liquid crystal molecules and the layer of graphene;
- and wherein the layer of graphene is an alignment layer and an electrode for a liquid crystal device.
A graphene and liquid crystal device wherein a layer of graphene is an alignment layer and an electrode for the liquid crystal device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a single layer of only graphene not including a composite on the substrate;
- a single layer of liquid crystal on the single layer of graphene;
- and
- π-π electron stacking;
- wherein the molecules of the layer of liquid crystal and the layer of graphene are aligned;
- further comprising a uniform planar aligned state of the molecules of the layer of liquid crystal;
- wherein the affinity of phenyl rings with one another comprises π-π stacking and configured to drive alignment of the layer of liquid crystal molecules and the single layer of graphene excluding a composite;
- and wherein the layer of graphene is an alignment layer and an electrode for a liquid crystal device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.