Liquid crystal diffractive devices with nano-scale pattern and methods of manufacturing the same

An electrically-controllable liquid crystal device comprising:

• a liquid crystal layer comprising a liquid crystal material;
• an alignment layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and including at least one pattern of nano-scale surface structures such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material in the liquid crystal layer align to the at least one pattern;
• a first electrode layer extending along a side of the alignment layer opposite the liquid crystal layer;
• and
• a second electrode layer adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and arranged such that the liquid crystal layer is between the second electrode layer and the alignment layer;
• wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises:
• a first domain including a first plurality of liquid crystal molecules, in which longitudinal axes of the first plurality of liquid crystal molecules are arranged to form a first pattern, and
• a second domain including a second plurality of liquid crystal molecules, in which the longitudinal axes of the second plurality of liquid crystal molecules are arranged to form a second pattern that is different from the first pattern,
• wherein the first domain is separated from the second domain along a transverse direction that is parallel to a major surface of the alignment layer;
• wherein the first domain is spaced apart laterally along the transverse direction from the second domain by a domain gap that is between the first domain and the second domain;
• wherein the longitudinal axes of the liquid crystal molecules in the domain gap progressively transition along the transverse direction from the first pattern to the second pattern such that the liquid crystal molecules in the domain gap form a transitional pattern that is transitional between the first pattern and the second pattern;
• and
• wherein applying an electric voltage across the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer creates an electric field that causes the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal material to align along a direction of the electric field.