Monodomain film formation and lasing in dye-doped polymer cholesteric liquid crystals

We have succeeded in fabricating monodomain polymer cholesteric liquid crystal (PCLC) films by spin coating a polymer solution onto glass substrates with polyimide coated and rubbed unidirectionally. The thickness and helical pitch were well characterized by controlling the rotational speed of the spin coater and the chiral unit content of the polymer solution, respectively. Lasing from dye-doped PCLC films utilizing the photonic structure was confirmed.