Comparative studies of the multiplexability of SSFLC devices with respect to alignment characteristics

Abstract

Several series of Surface-Stabilized Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal (SSFLC) cells were prepared using different aligning techniques (obliquely evaporated SiO_x, buffed polyimides and nylon). The surface structure of aligning layers were studied by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The samples were filled with various commercial FLC materials from Merck, BDH and Chisso. Our investigations were focused on the correlation between the aligning layer and the electro-optic characteristics of the SSFLC samples. The strength of the elastic torque is related to the surface conditions and evaluated using a specially designed test waveform. The switching properties and image sticking phenomenon have been studied under real addressing conditions.