Necessary conditions for display and fast switching of high contrast images by antiferroelectric liquid crystal displays

Journal article, 2006

Antiferroelectric liquid crystals (AFLC) with 45° molecular tilt were stated to be the solution of the dark state problem in AFLC displays (AFLCDs). However, AFLCs that are available at present actually possess antiferroelectric (AF) to ferroelectric (F) transition of first order characterized by slow switching times which in turn deteriorates the dark state in AFLCDs. Here, we report on the switching behavior of a siloxane AFLC dimer with molecular tilt close to 45°. This material exhibits AF to F transition of second order at lower temperatures, something that enables display and fast switching of high contrast images in AFLCDs. ©2006 American Institute of Physics