Electrically induced anchoring transition in nematics with small or zero dielectric anisotropy

ABSTRACT

The orientational transitions induced by electrically controlled ionic modification of surface anchoring in liquid crystal cells based on the nematics with small or zero dielectric anisotropy Δε are considered. The type of director reorientation is shown to be independent of the sign of dielectric anisotropy and can be the same for the nematics with both negative and positive Δε. Besides, the orientational transition and corresponding switchable optical states do not depend on the Δε value and can be effectively realised even for the nematics with zero dielectric anisotropy.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Nematic
• ionic surfactant
• anchoring transition
• hybrid homeoplanar structure
• dielectric anisotropy
• electrooptics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research under Grants [15-02-06924 and 16-53-00073] and by the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences under Complex Program [II.2P 0358-2015-0010]. V.S.S. acknowledges financial support from Russian Foundation for Basic Research under Grants [16-32-60036 and 16-32-00164].