Multidimensional Photopatterning of Heterogeneous Liquid-Crystal Superstructures Toward Higher-Level Information Optics

Abstract

Soft matter, featuring superior flexibility and intriguing tunability, has shown enormous potential in sensors, soft robots, and light tailoring. However, limited by its inherent structural complexity, soft matter remains uncompetitive in multidimensional and high-density information optics. Herein, a heterogeneous liquid-crystal (LC) superstructure composed of interlocked nematic and chiral LCs is designed to achieve higher-dimensional light control. Optically multidimensional photopatterning with programmable UV polarization and dosage is proposed to precisely customize both transverse and longitudinal LC arrangements, bringing in a wide range of light-matter interactions within a single micrometer-thick film. The constructed heterogeneous LC superstructure not only enables simultaneous near-field full-color printing and far-field full-color holography but also boasts brightness controllability and polarization selectivity. This low-cost photonic structure enables a high information density of ≈1.6 million hybrid-dimensional optical data per square millimeter, unlocking new capabilities in optical storage, display, and encryption. This work creates an ingenious bond between advanced photopatterning technologies and higher-level optical informatics, and pioneers soft-matter-mediated full-dimensional optics.