Nematic Bistable Device Using a Metastable Anti-Conical Surface Anchoring

Abstract

We propose a bistable nematic device implementing the recently observed anti-conical degenerated anchoring on a grafted polystyrene surface. The anti-conical surface presents two energy minima, planar degenerated and homeotropic, separated by a conical energy barrier. Under moderate electric field the anchoring is broken, the surface director jumps across the energy barrier and the device switches between two optically distinct bistable textures.

Keywords:

• Anchoring transitions
• bistable nematic
• surface bistability

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. S. Joly and Dr. D.-N. Stoenescu for helpful discussions. The work by L.F. was supported by a CIFRE grant from ANRT, France.