Simulation of the thickness dependence of the optical properties of suspended particle devices Articles uri icon

publication date

  • December 2015

start page

  • 613

end page

  • 622

volume

  • 143

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0927-0248

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1879-3398

abstract

  • Suspended particle devices (SPDs) are able to rapidly switch from a dark bluish-black state to a clear greyish appearance when an AC electric field is applied. Two-flux and four-flux models were used to derive refractive indices and extinction coefficients, as well as scattering and absorption coefficients, of the particle-containing active layer. These entities were used in model calculations to predict direct, total and diffuse components of transmittance and reflectance, along with color appearance and haze, as a function of the thickness of the active layer. An optimum thickness for optical contrast of the SPD was determined in this way and was found to be in the range of 200-300 nm. The devices exhibit significant haze particularly in reflection. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

subjects

  • Electronics

keywords

  • scattering transfer equation; radiative-transfer model; absorption-coefficients; 4-flux models; solar-energy; parameters; solve