A single-Schottky liquid crystal is disclosed in which a series of Schottky contacts are made on one side of a photoconductor substrate by a metal matrix mirror, with a doped semiconductor back contact electrode on the other side of the substrate. The light valve offers several operational advantages over MOS devices, and is easier to fabricate than double-Schottky light valves. It can be operated either in an AC mode or, by doping the liquid crystal ions, in a DC mode.