Optical notch filter using thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

Poly(γ‐benzyl L‐glutamate), partially transesterified with 1‐dodecanol, and polysiloxane were employed to fabricate a right‐ and left‐handed optical element, respectively. The wavelength of selective reflection was tuned via physical blending or annealing at a proper temperature. An optical notch filter comprising elements with each handedness showed an optical density of 2.0 within the rejection band and 73 to 83% transmission outside the band, suggesting liquid crystalline polymers as promising materials for the construction of environmentally robust optical notch filters.

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