Abstract
Dynamic modulation of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light is important for smart windows, adaptive photonics, and emerging display technologies. Here we report a vertically aligned polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) platform that enables electrically tunable UV–visible light control with high optical clarity and low operating voltage. Using a negative dielectric anisotropy liquid crystal and optimized UV polymerization, the PNLC device exhibits high transparency in the field-off state (~83% transmittance with ~1.5% haze) and switches to a strongly scattering state (~90% haze) under applied electric fields. Electro-optical switching begins at ~1.5 V μm-1 and saturates near ~3.4 V μm-1, with attenuation governed by field-induced refractive-index mismatch rather than intrinsic absorption. By integrating the PNLC shutter with InP/ZnSe/ZnS QD/NOA composite layers, we demonstrate electrical modulation of quantum dot (QD) photoluminescence (PL) through excitation gating. Green and red QDs emit at ~530 and ~630 nm and show reversible intensity modulation with high modulation depth (~92–97%). The device also exhibits millisecond-scale switching and stable operation over repeated cycles. This architecture establishes a quantum dot liquid crystal display (QD-LCD) concept, offering a pathway toward high-brightness, long-lifetime, and low-voltage photonic and display systems.
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The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available as they form part of ongoing research but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea [2022R1A2C2091671]; by the Commercialization Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes (COMPA) grant [RS-2023-00304743], funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), Korea; and supported by the BK21 FOUR Program, Jeonbuk National University, including GEONJI Paper Support Program.
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A.R. conducted the experiments, analyzed data, wrote the manuscript; M.D.P. analyzed data, edited the manuscript; S.H.L. initiated the project and edited the manuscript; M.S.K. conceived the idea, supervised the experiments and writing manuscript, analyzed data, wrote, and edited the manuscript. Conceptualization: M.S.K. S.H.L Methodology: A.R. M.S.K. Investigation: A.R. M.S.K. Visualization: A.R. M.S.K. M.D.P. Supervision: M.S.K. S.H.L. Writing—original draft: A.R. M.S.K. Writing—review & editing: M.S.K. S.H.L. M.D.P. Funding acquisition: S.H.L.
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Ramadas, A., Patekari, M.D., Lee, S.H. et al. Electrically tunable UV–visible modulation and voltage-controlled quantum dot emission via polymer network liquid crystals. npj Flex Electron (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00578-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-026-00578-w
