Nonlinear optical properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystals doped with La2CaB10019

Second order nonlinearity in polymer dispersed liquid crystal structures containing La2CaB10O19 nanocrystals were measured with use of the Maker fringes method. The composites with different concentration of La2CaB10O19 crystallites or without them were compared. It was shown that there is a strong influence of the crystals concentration on the second harmonic generation in such structures which can be additionally modified by external electric field.

► Second harmonic signal increases in PDLC with concentration of nonlinear nanocrystals.
► Second harmonic signal in PDLC can be improved by an external electric field.
► Transparency and nonlinear properties of PDLC can be controlled.
► PDLC properties can be applied to LC displays and other switching devices.