Molecular Alignment Structure and Switching of a Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Stabilized by a Polymer Network Created in the SmA Phase

ABSTRACT

In order to realize monostability in surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals, polymer stabilization techniques have been proposed, and the polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals (PSFLCs), which is fabricated by UV photocure of doped photocurable mesogenic monomers at a temperature where the FLC medium is in the SmA phase, has been reported to show V-shaped electrooptical characteristics. However, the reason why the monostable V-shaped switching can be realized has not been clear yet. In this research, the electrooptical characteristics, the microscopic textures, the tilt angle and the chevron angle of the PSFLCs photocured in the SmA phase were measured, and then the molecular alignment structure was discussed from these results.

Keywords:

• chevron angle
• ferroelectric liquid crystal
• monostability
• polymer
• SmA
• tilt angle
• V-shaped electrooptical characteristics

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. H. Fukuro and Mr. H. Endoh of Nissan Chem. Ind. for supplying polyimide materials. We also thank to Dr. H. Takatsu and Dr. H. Hasebe of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals for supplying photocurable mesogenic materials.