SBIR Phase I: Bent-Core Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals for Nonlinear-Optic Devices

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to examine the feasibility of developing a new class of bent-core NLO ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) capable of advanced, low cost, laser light sources for displays on the basis of their strong second harmonic generation (SHG). These materials will also have large electro-optic (EO) coefficients and can be readily integrated with silicon VLSI, enabling their use in high-bandwidth chip-to-chip data transfer, optical long-haul, and fiber-to-the-home telecommunications. This SBIR Phase I project will advance the scientific and technological understanding of a new class of bent-core NLO ferroelectric liquid crystals. This innovation will enable advanced optoelectronic products across multiple markets, including laser illuminators for projection display, high-speed integrated EO modulators (e.g. >100GHz), switches for optical interconnects and telecommunications, and sensors and devices for optical information processing. This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).