Faster nonlinear optical response in liquid crystal cells containing gold nano-island films

We are considering a new type of electro-optical liquid crystal (LC) cells, which includes a gold nano-island film deposited on the ITO electrode of one of the cell substrates. Using the method of dynamic holography with two-wave mixing of laser beams and the applied voltage, we have revealed a fast nonlinear optical effect in these composite LC cells. We have observed the generation of many diffraction orders and the efficient energy transfer in a composite cell based on the E7 nematic mixture, which depends on the applied voltage. The cells exhibit a fast response time. For the first time, we have obtained the frequency mode for on/off with such cells by applying alternating voltage. The surface-induced photorefractive effect at the inorganic–organic interface, which includes an ITO electrode with a gold nano-island film deposed on it, and organic LC molecules distributed on this ingomogeneous conductive surface, is responsible for accelerating the switching time of photoinduced reorientation of the LC molecules.