High-efficiency and fast-switching field-induced tunable phase grating using polymer-stabilized in-plane switching liquid crystals with vertical alignment

We demonstrate a high-efficiency and fast-switching phase grating based upon a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal device driven by in-plane switching electric field. Periodical modulation in field-induced refractive index profile is realized in the in-plane switching liquid crystal (LC) cells with vertical alignment, and voltage-dependent diffraction patterns are obtained. The diffraction efficiency of the LC phase grating is varied by voltage applied to the interdigitated electrodes, and the first-order diffraction efficiency of the device achieves 28.5% at 6.25 V μm^-1. The dynamic response is improved by surface polymer stabilization. This device has potential advantages of versatile design and ease of fabrication.