Liquid Crystals as Active Functional Media for Advanced Plasmonic Applications

Abstract

Liquid crystals (LCs) have emerged as highly versatile active functional media for advanced plasmonic applications owing to their unique combination of optical anisotropy, tunability, and responsiveness to external stimuli. By integrating plasmonic nanostructures with liquid crystal matrices, dynamic control over localized surface plasmon resonances and surface plasmon polaritons can be achieved through electric, magnetic, thermal, or optical fields. This synergy enables the development of reconfigurable photonic devices with enhanced light matter interactions, improved sensing capabilities, and adaptive optical functionalities. The chapter discusses the fundamental principles governing LC plasmonic interactions, recent advances in hybrid LC plasmonic systems, and their applications in tunable sensors, optical switches, modulators, displays, and nanophotonic devices.