Anisotropic hydroxypropylcellulose films as alignment layers of a bistable ferroelectric device

Abstract

Hydroxypropylcellulose films are used as the alignment substrate in a liquid crystal bistable electro-optical device. These alignment films were characterized by atomic force microscopy. The electro-optical behaviour of this device, which operates in the Clark-Lagerwall mode, is identical to that observed for typical SSFLC cells. In particular the bistability of the cell was clearly observed, the threshold voltage was measured and an estimation of the anchoring energy of the LC mixture used, in this type of system, was made.