Electroactive optical device

A method of making a multilayer optical device comprising:

• a) applying a layer comprising an electroactive material capable of linearly polarizing electromagnetic radiation over at least a portion of a surface of an optical substrate, wherein the layer is in the form of a polymeric coating layer which includes the electroactive material or a polymeric gel layer which includes the electroactive material, and has a first surface and a second surface directly opposite the first surface, and wherein the electroactive material comprises an at least partially aligned electrochromic-dichroic material;
• b) applying at least two transparent electrodes spaced one from the other and each independently in contact with the first surface or the second surface of the layer comprising the electroactive material;
• and
• c) applying a birefringent layer and an orientation facility;
• wherein a source capable of applying an electric potential between the at least two electrodes is in electric communication with the at least two electrodes.

An electroactive optical device comprising:

• (a) an optical substrate;
• (b) a layer comprising an electroactive material capable of linearly polarizing electromagnetic radiation and a self-assembling material, wherein the layer is in the form of a polymeric coating layer which includes the electroactive material and self-assembling material or a polymeric gel layer which includes the electroactive material and self-assembling material, and wherein the electroactive material comprises an at least partially aligned electrochromic-dichroic material;
• (c) at least two transparent electrodes spaced one from the other and each independently in contact with the layer comprising the electroactive material;
• (d) a source capable of applying an electric potential between the at least two electrodes;
• and
• (e) a birefringent layer;
• wherein electromagnetic radiation transmitting through the device comprises a first polarization state in the absence of an electrical potential between the at least two electrodes;
• wherein the electromagnetic radiation transmitting through the device comprises a second polarization state that is different from the first polarization state, in the presence of an electrical potential between the at least two electrodes;
• and
• wherein the electroactive optical device is operable to circularly polarize or elliptically polarize transmitted radiation.