https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0174-6117
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ABSTRACT
Sessile droplets of a ferroelectric nematic liquid crystalline material were exposed to surface electric fields produced by pyroelectric and photogalvanic (photovoltaic) effects in X-cut iron-doped lithium niobate crystals. The resulting dynamic processes were monitored by polarisation optical (video)microscopy (POM). During heating/cooling cycles, at first, the droplets change their shape from spherical to extended ellipsoidal. Then, they start to move rapidly along the surface electric field, i.e. along the crystal’s polar axis (c-axis). During this motion, several droplets merge into running streams (tendrils) extending towards the edges of the top surface area. Finally, practically all liquid crystalline material is transported from the top surface to the side surfaces of the crystal. At stabilised temperatures, laser illumination of the assembly causes dynamic processes that are localised to the illuminated area. Also, in this case, the LC droplets merge into several tendril-like formations that are preferentially oriented along the c-axis of the crystal. The pattern of tendrils fluctuates with time, but it persists as long as the illumination is present. In this case, the LC material is transported between the central and the edge regions of the illuminated area.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Acknowledgments
We thank R. A. Rupp for useful discussions and suggestions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Video files, from which snapshots shown in were taken, are available from [Citation59].
Correction Statement
This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.