Liquid crystals alignment with PbS nanosculptured thin films

ABSTRACT

Lead sulphide (PbS) nano-sculptured thin films (nSTFs) are prepared for the first time using glancing angle deposition technique by physical vapour deposition process. An anisotropic morphology is obtained, which provides an orientational effect. Due to this anisotropic nature of PbS nSTF an attempt has been made to check its effect on the alignment of nematic liquid crystals (LCs). Two different LC devices were fabricated, that is, anti-parallel aligned or electrically-controlled birefringence and hybrid twisted nematic. It is noticed that in both types of devices, good alignment is obtained with high extinction and contrast. A significant effect of these alignments on the electro-optic properties of the LC is reported such as the threshold voltage, response time and contrast ratio.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Lead sulphide nanosculptured thin film
• liquid crystals (LCs) alignment
• response time
• contrast ratio

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Professor Satyendra Kumar for the fruitful discussions. The first author acknowledges Council for Higher Education Israel, for the partial financial support. This work was also partially supported by the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Additional information

Funding

The first author acknowledges Council for Higher Education Israel, for the partial financial support. This work was also partially supported by the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF).