Properties of liquid crystals in photonic crystal, synthetic opal

Liquid crystals such as nematic liquid crystals and ferroelectric smectic l iquid crystals are well infiltrated in photonic crystal, synthetic opal. Di electric and optical properties of liquid crystals have been found to exhib it remarkable change upon infiltration in the opal. Diffraction and transmi ssion of light through opals have been found to change upon infiltration of liquid crystal in opals and also upon field application. Relaxation of die lectric response in liquid crystals infiltrated in opal shifted to higher f requency and its temperature dependence has also changed. Electro-optic eff ect of the opal infiltrated with liquid crystals have been also discussed. These results have been discussed in terms of interaction of liquid crystal molecule in nano-space and the inner surface of the nano-scale void in the photonic crystal, synthetic opal.