New ways to produce and measure low pre-tilt angles

We report upon a new method for producing a homogeneous alignment with a low pre-tilt angle for nematic liquid crystals. This method is significantly simpler to implement than many existing methods, and requires knowledge of only the optical properties of the liquid crystal used. In addition, we have developed a new technique for measuring the pre-tilt angles that is straightforward as well as intuitively appealing. The sensitivity of this method increases as the pre-tilt angle decreases. Results obtained using this method agree satisfactorily with those yielded by traditional techniques.     

Modelling zenithal bistability at an isolated edge in nematic liquid crystal cells

In recent experiments we observed bistable switching in devices made with long pitch square gratings on one surface. It was also discovered that the switching in these devices was localized mainly at isolated edges of the square grating profile. In this paper we present an initial study of surface-induced director configurations at isolated edges of a square profile in the absence of an applied voltage. Our emphasis is on understanding the effect of edge features such as the edge depth and edge inclination in forming stable high and low pre-tilt states. Models based on a Landau-de Gennes approach were used and solutions were found through numerical simulation using finite element methods; optical response was determined, based on wide angle beam propagation methods. Results from real cells are also presented. Our results show that static defect-stabilized states exist for a range of isolated edge depths and inclination angles. In particular, a combination of deep edge depths and steep edge inclinations produce stable high and low pre-tilt director configurations.     

Visible polarized light transmission spectroscopy of the electro-optic switching behaviour of surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal cells

We present in this paper an experimental and theoretical modelling study of the switching characteristics and electro-optic behaviour of chevron surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal cells with planar (low pre-tilt) and non-planar (high pre-tilt) surface conditions. The visible polarized light transmission spectra were taken of the cells with glass plates coated with films of either rubbed polymer or obliquely evaporated silicon monoxide (SiO) at various applied voltages and in various stages of switching and compared with the theoretical values calculated numerically based on our director-polarization structure model for the aforementioned cells. The results provide evidence for the origin of differences in domain shape and contrast in the switching process between planar and non-planar chevron surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal cells.     

Photo-alignment of liquid crystals using a crosslinked discotic film

A new photo-alignment layer using a crosslinked discotic compound was demonstrated. This discotic compound exhibits excellent solubility in common organic solvents, the possibility of low temperature processing and good thermal stability. A linearly polarized long wavelength ultraviolet (LPUV) light (λ = 350 nm) was used to initiate the crosslinking process and induce liquid crystal alignment on the discotic film surface. The induced LC directors were found parallel to the electric field direction of the LPUV light. A 1.2° pre-tilt angle was achieved using a single exposure at a 30° oblique angle.     

Homogeneous liquid crystal alignment on poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) films subjected to ion-beam irradiation

We demonstrate homogeneous and uniform liquid crystal (LC) alignment on poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [PVDF-TrFE] films using ion-beam (IB) irradiation and a performance improvement of twisted nematic (TN) cells using IB-irradiated PVDF-TrFE films. Spontaneous ferroelectricity of the PVDF-TrFE films was modified by IB irradiation, which affected the LC alignment properties. The variation in the pre-tilt angles of the LC molecules on the IB-irradiated PVDF films is attributed to surface reformation, including defluorination and oxidation because the pre-tilt angles of LC molecules can be controlled by adjusting the fluorine content. The results of contact angle measurements supported this phenomenon. A 58% reduction in the switching voltage was observed for TN cells, indicating that the IB-irradiated PVDF-TrFE films are a promising candidate for use as an alignment layer.     

A switchable optical diffuser based on a polymer/nematic liquid crystal composite film with transient polymer balls-networks microstructure

ABSTRACT

With the increasing development of multifunction liquid crystal displays (LCDs), multifunction optical diffusers have attracted more attention. In this work, switchable optical diffusers based on the transient polymer balls-networks in polymer/nematic liquid crystal composite films have been prepared and investigated, and the effects of thiol content, curing time, LC content and photo-initiator content on the polymer microstructures and optical properties of optical diffusers are systematically studied. An optical diffuser with the transient polymer balls-networks microstructure has achieved the high transmission (96.42%), high haze (90.49%), excellent optical diffusing ability and wide viewing angle of 150° (from ?75° to 75°) on its off state. By the application of electric field of 40.0 voltage, the viewing angle of the optical diffuser turns to be narrower (from ?60° to 60°), which gives great applications in tunable viewing angle devices and other electric optical devices.     

Physicochemical analysis of ion beam-induced surface modifications on polyethylene glycol films for liquid crystal alignment

ABSTRACT

We investigated the surface modification induced by the ion-beam (IB) irradiation of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) film and its liquid crystal (LC) alignment characteristics. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed the chemical modification; as the IB incidence angle increased, the number of surface C–O bonds decreased, inducing an anisotropic dipole moment on the PEG film surface. In addition, the physical modification was demonstrated via atomic force microscopy analysis using three-dimensional images as a function of the IB incidence angle. The surface roughness was analyzed; the modification with the smoothest surface was observed for an IB incidence angle of 45°. This modification affected the LC alignment state of the PEG film, as demonstrated by the polarized optical microscopy analysis with pre-tilt angle measurements. Furthermore, for the same IB incidence angle, the residual DC measured using the capacitance–voltage curves was extremely low. Hence, a PEG film irradiated with an IB incidence angle of 45° could be a suitable LC alignment layer.     

Continuum modelling of hybrid-aligned nematic liquid crystal cells: optical response and flexoelectricity-induced voltage shift

A continuum model is employed to study systematically the optical response of hybrid-aligned nematic (HAN) liquid crystal cells under the application of an external electric field. The influence of the flexoelectric effect is discussed for a large range of anchoring strengths at the homeotropic alignment layer. It is shown that the optical response of HAN cells is governed by a complicated interplay between the flexoelectric coefficient and homeotropic anchoring strength. In particular, the calculations reveal that, for weak homeotropic anchoring, the flexoelectric effect leads to a non-linear voltage shift of the optical transmittance as a function of flexoelectric coefficient, and gives rise to an asymmetry in the transmittance-voltage curve. Finally, a comparison of the continuum-model simulations with recent experimental observations indicates that both the flexoelectric coefficient and the anchoring strength of the nematic liquid crystal MBBA on a homeotropic polyimide alignment layer are significantly lower than previously reported.     

Continuum modelling of hybrid-aligned nematic liquid crystal cells: optical response and flexoelectricity-induced voltage shift

A continuum model is employed to study systematically the optical response of hybrid-aligned nematic (HAN) liquid crystal cells under the application of an external electric field. The influence of the flexoelectric effect is discussed for a large range of anchoring strengths at the homeotropic alignment layer. It is shown that the optical response of HAN cells is governed by a complicated interplay between the flexoelectric coefficient and homeotropic anchoring strength. In particular, the calculations reveal that, for weak homeotropic anchoring, the flexoelectric effect leads to a non-linear voltage shift of the optical transmittance as a function of flexoelectric coefficient, and gives rise to an asymmetry in the transmittance–voltage curve. Finally, a comparison of the continuum-model simulations with recent experimental observations indicates that both the flexoelectric coefficient and the anchoring strength of the nematic liquid crystal MBBA on a homeotropic polyimide alignment layer are significantly lower than previously reported.     

An investigation of the porosity and surface roughness of liquid crystal alignment layers using neutron reflectivity

Neutron reflectivity has been used to investigate the porosity and surface roughness of three different liquid crystal alignment layers to elucidate how they orient the director. The absorption of hexane into these alignment layers was measured by neutron reflection and the volume fraction profile of the hexane within the layers was determined using the contrast variation method. Measurements were made on rubbed polyimide and silicon monoxide (SiO) evaporated at 5 and 30 to the substrate. The porosity and surface roughness of the alignment layers were found to be correlated with the induced pre-tilt of the director. The low pre-tilt rubbed polyimide and SiO 30 alignment layers were found to be smooth, uniform and impervious to hexane, whilst the high pre-tilt SiO 5 was porous and extremely rough. These observations suggest that both polyimide and SiO 30 rely on an anisotropic interaction with the surface rather than one induced by the surface topography. In contrast, the alignment of liquid crystals by SiO 5 probably originates from an interaction between the mesogens and the rough, porous surface.     

Rubbing angle effect on in-plane switching liquid crystal displays

The rubbing angle effect on transmissive in-plane switching liquid crystal displays is analysed by the Jones matrix method. Simulation results show that the optimum rubbing angle is around 30°-40°; the cell gap/birefringence product (dΔn) is about 0.33 µm. Increasing the rubbing angle can shorten the rise time and enlarge the grey scale voltage intervals. The optical characteristics are similar in two cells with different rubbing angles. These effects are particularly attractive for liquid crystal TV applications.     

The effect of chiral doping in achiral smectic liquid crystals on the de Vries characteristics: smectic layer thickness,electro-optics and birefringence

An addition of chiral dopant to two achiral smectic liquid crystals from a homologous series, by varying weight percentages with known low values of layer shrinkage, leads to chiral smectic-C* phase with a finite value of the spontaneous polarisation. The electro-optical response arising from changes in the induced apparent tilt angle brought about by a weak electric field in the SmA* phase gives rise to power law dependency on the reduced temperature. The critical exponent γ of the power law depends on the dopant concentration but its value is found to be greater than the typical value of 1.32. This implies that the short-range correlation extends from two dimensions to three dimensions in these materials in the SmA phase. The layer thickness of smectic layers in the guest–host system remains unaltered up to the 15 wt % addition of the chiral dopant to two achiral smectics. The system thus retains the low layer shrinkage of the achiral smectic as evidenced by measurements of the layer thickness from X-ray scattering and thickness measurements from optical interferometry. Results on the optical birefringence and the apparent tilt angle lead us to the conclusion of having successfully obtained chiral smectic materials for devices with de Vries characteristics by chiral doping.     

Rubbing angle effect on in‐plane switching liquid crystal displays

The rubbing angle effect on transmissive in‐plane switching liquid crystal displays is analysed by the Jones matrix method. Simulation results show that the optimum rubbing angle is around 30°–40°; the cell gap/birefringence product (dΔn) is about 0.33 µm. Increasing the rubbing angle can shorten the rise time and enlarge the grey scale voltage intervals. The optical characteristics are similar in two cells with different rubbing angles. These effects are particularly attractive for liquid crystal TV applications.     

A study of the electroclinic effect using half-leaky guided modes with a homeotropically aligned liquid crystal

High resolution voltage dependent tilt angle studies using optical excitation of half-leaky guided modes have been conducted on a homeotropically aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture (Merck SCE13) in the S_A phase. Uniform homeotropic alignment is realised, with no surface aligning layer, by the application of an in-plane DC electric field when the liquid crystal is in the S_C* phase. The applied field unwinds the pitch of the S_C* chiral helix and gives a uniformly tilted homeotropic monodomain. On warming into the S_A phase, detailed studies of the voltage induced tilt, the electroclinic effect, are then conducted at various temperatures. Because there is no influence of surface anchoring forces, the linear relationship between the induced tilt angle and the DC field is obtained even under very weak fields. Further, the relationship between induced tilt and temperature confirms the predictions of a second order Landau mean-field theory with a coupling term between the tilt angle and the DC field.     

Electro-optic properties of thiol-ene polymer stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals

Electro-optic properties of polymer stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (PSFLC) systems are examined as a function of varying concentrations of either a linear or crosslinked thiol-ene polymer. The thiol-ene method of polymer stabilization is a drastic change from previous studies designed to avert the problem of polymer phase separation. FLC rise time and tilt angle measurements were used to determine the effects of the polymer network on the optical properties of the system. The addition of monomer impurities to both systems demonstrated a reduction in tilt angle, which translated into decreased switching speeds in both systems prior to polymerization. The crosslinked thiol-ene system showed increased switching times due to the creation of polymer in the interlayer spacing of the FLC, but exhibited minimal increase in the rotational viscosity of the system. In addition, the crosslinked polymer systems resulted in an increase in the liquid crystalline order, which produced an increase in the contrast ratio of the system. The linear polymer system showed drastically different results as compared with the crosslinked system. The rise time and tilt angle measurements decreased upon polymerization of the linear thiol-ene and the rotational viscosity and contrast ratio values also decreased. We suggest that the linear thiol-ene polymer phase separation from the interlayer spacing leads to a microscopic misalignment of the FLC molecules, causing a decrease in the optical properties of the LC.     

Electro-optic properties of thiol-ene polymer stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals

Electro-optic properties of polymer stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (PSFLC) systems are examined as a function of varying concentrations of either a linear or crosslinked thiol-ene polymer. The thiol-ene method of polymer stabilization is a drastic change from previous studies designed to avert the problem of polymer phase separation. FLC rise time and tilt angle measurements were used to determine the effects of the polymer network on the optical properties of the system. The addition of monomer impurities to both systems demonstrated a reduction in tilt angle, which translated into decreased switching speeds in both systems prior to polymerization. The crosslinked thiol-ene system showed increased switching times due to the creation of polymer in the interlayer spacing of the FLC, but exhibited minimal increase in the rotational viscosity of the system. In addition, the crosslinked polymer systems resulted in an increase in the liquid crystalline order, which produced an increase in the contrast ratio of the system. The linear polymer system showed drastically different results as compared with the crosslinked system. The rise time and tilt angle measurements decreased upon polymerization of the linear thiol-ene and the rotational viscosity and contrast ratio values also decreased. We suggest that the linear thiol-ene polymer phase separation from the interlayer spacing leads to a microscopic misalignment of the FLC molecules, causing a decrease in the optical properties of the LC.     

Optical rotation at the free surface of a nematic liquid crystal

When a small droplet of a nematic liquid crystal is placed on a horizontal glass plate in the presence of a magnetic field, the plane of polarization of light transmitted upward through the liquid crystal can be rotated. A defect usually forms preferring a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field and forming a diagonal of the droplet. This defect divides the free surface into regions giving rise to optical rotations that are clockwise and counterclockwise. It is suggested that the defect may be similar to a Helfrich splay-bend wall and the optical rotation in the regions near the defect may be explained by surface effects at the free surface of a liquid crystal.     

Stressed states in domain switching of ferroelectric liquid crystal devices

In this paper we show that the director profile of a low pre-tilt surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal passes through quasi-static stressed states during domain switching under direct drive conditions. Using polarized stroboscopic microscopy, we have observed two quasi-static transmission levels during a domain switching transition from dark to light. This is a result of the directors reorienting into stressed profiles both before and after the chevron interface has switched. By modelling the interaction between the elastic forces and the torque from the applied field, we have determined these voltage dependent director profiles and, by calculating their corresponding transmissivities, have shown very good agreement with the experimentally observed values.     

Liquid-crystal-droplet optical microcavities

ABSTRACT

The use of liquid-crystal droplets as optical microcavities and lasers is reviewed and possible applications are discussed. Liquid-crystal droplets are prepared by simple methods that enable scalable production since their internal structure is formed by self-assembly. Light is trapped in droplets due to total internal reflection on the surface due to refractive index mismatch or because of a photonic bandgap structure in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). Light confinement gives rise to a variety of optical modes and by employing a fluorescent dye end external optical pumping, lasing can be achieved. Liquid-crystal-droplet cavities are largely tunable by applying an electric field or a temperature change. Such cavities can be used as temperature and chemical sensors, and tunable light sources and filters in future integrated soft photonic circuits.     

Critical radius of loop defects in homeotropic nematic liquid crystals

We describe an experimental situation with a looped line defect in nematic liquid crystals observed by polarizing optical microscopy. We measured the critical size of the loop below which it spontaneously shrinks and transforms into a point defect. The experiment was done with 5CB which gives rise to twist disclinations as do most of the usual nematics. For this kind of disclination an in-plane force due to the boundary conditions acts on the line and influences the critical radius. W e have constructed a model which is in good agreement with experimental measurements and deduced the line tension of the disclination.