Two-dimensional tunable photonic crystal formed in a liquid-crystal/polymer composite: Threshold behavior and morphology

A two-dimensional (2D) transverse square lattice is formed using holographic methods in a liquid-crystal/polymer composite through a photoinduced diffusion process. The polymer morphology is investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The kinetics of formation is described within the framework of a 2D diffusion model, and a simple phenomenological description captures the nature of the Freedericksz transition, allowing the estimation of the surface anchoring strength ${\text{W≈3×10}}^{\text{−4}}\hspace{0.17em}{\mathrm{J/m}}^2.$