![Sample our Physical Sciences journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/110819/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Physical-Sciences.jpg"})
Abstract
In this paper we show the effect of addition of monomeric and bimeric azo and stilbene organosiloxane dyes to ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) devices. These dyes show SmA phases, which are miscible at all concentrations, in our benzoate host. Simple mixing of host liquid crystal and dye allow us to control the spontaneous polarisation, tilt angle or phase range. This allows applications from birefringent devices to single polariser dye guest host devices. The SmA* phases induced show marked electroclinic effects. The effect of dye addition favourably alters the phase sequence allowing easier alignment and room temperature ferroelectricity. The bi-azo dye produced an antiferroelectic phase, which we attribute to a templating effect.