Measurement of the Flexoelectric Coefficients e₁ and e₃ in Nematic Liquid Crystals

Abstract

The flexoelectric coefficients e ₁ and e ₃ for splay and bend are measured using two experiments. The first experiment measures the sum (e ₁ + e ₃) using a π-cell and applying an ac voltage across the device. The second experiment measures the difference (e ₁ − e ₃) using a TN-cell and applying an in-plane quasi-dc voltage.

Keywords:

• difference
• flexoelectric coefficient
• flexoelectricity
• sum
• TN-cell
• π-cell

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the EPSRC for funding the project and MERCK for supplying materials and devices. LAP-J would also like to acknowledge the Royal Society for funding.