Electrical orientation behaviour of a nematic liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy above the microelectrodes

Abstract

Factors for the electrical orientation on interdigitated microelectrodes deposited on a substrate, a microdielectrometric sensor (or a sensor), were discussed experimentally using a model nematic liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy. The electrical orientation behaviour of the nematic liquid crystal was investigated using microdielectrometry and polarised optical microscopy. The experimental results were discussed in relation to electric-field line, surface topology, anchoring of the liquid crystalline molecules to the microelectrodes, and transversal rotation of a rode-like molecule of the liquid crystal with negative dielectric anisotropy.

Keywords:

• microelectrodes
• nematic liquid crystals
• negative dielectric anisotropy
• electrical orientation
• microdielectrometry
• polarised optical microscopy