Optical and electrical properties characterisation of photovoltaic spatial-light modulators

Liquid crystal photovoltaic spatial-light modulators use photovoltaic layers as an integrated power source to switch from a transparent to an opaque state depending on the ambient illumination. We use non-invasive cross-polarised intensity measurements, to fit photovoltaic parameters, namely photo-generated voltage and photoconductivity, in a sealed device and map their variation across its surface. This methodology was used to estimate the effect of light intensity on these devices and to monitor changes of the photovoltaic parameters over a nine-month period.