Direct evidence of the molecular switching in electrically commanded surfaces for liquid crystal displays
Journal article, 2005
This work, performed by means of time-resolved high-resolution birefringence measurements, establishes the switching mechanism of electrically commanded surfaces _ECS_ for liquid-crystal displays. A distinct polar electro-optic response, due to the field-induced in-plane switching of the molecules of the 200-nm ferroelectric liquid crystalline polysiloxane alignment layer representing ECS, was detected in a cell filled with isotropic liquid _hexadecane_. The similarity between this response and the one reported recently in cells containing the same ECS but with a nematic liquid-crystal bulk with negative dielectric anisotropy (Delta-epsilon < 0) and field-free planar alignment provides direct and unambiguous proof that the switching in these cells is indeed mediated by the ECS. © 2005 American Institute of Physics. _DOI: 10.1063/1.2009071_
polymer films
birefringence
time resolved spectra
ferroelectric switching
liquid crystal polymers
molecular reorientation
ferroelectric liquid crystals
electro-optical effects
nematic liquid crystals
permittivity
molecular orientation
Author
Miha Škarabot
Igor Muševič
Bertil Helgee
Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Polymer Technology
University of Gothenburg
Lachezar Komitov
University of Gothenburg
Journal of Applied Physics
0021-8979 (ISSN) 1089-7550 (eISSN)
Vol. 98 046109-Subject Categories
Manufacturing, Surface and Joining Technology
Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
Other Materials Engineering
Condensed Matter Physics