Liquid crystals (LCs) are attractive for optical devices, such as lenses because of their large birefringence and high response to external field. However, the low-speed response of nematic LCs often becomes an obstacle to the progress of LC devices. In this study, we research the lens effect of ferroelectric LC by using a voltage-gradient cell. As a result, it is found that in order to obtain the lens effect in FLC, the wide cell gap, the large tilt angle and/or the large birefringence of FLC materials are necessary to increase the birefringence variation under the gradient voltage in addition to the monostabilization of FLC media.
We have investigated the molecular alignment structure of ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) in a wide-gap cell for application to optical devices, such as an electrically controlled lens. The transformation of the smectic layer structure has been observed under an electric field, particularly under a low electric field in the wide-gap cell. We have attempted to suppress this transformation, which considerably degrades the optical performance of FLCs, by the polymer stabilization technique. As a result, we have found that the layer transformation can be suppressed successfully. However, the disarray of the FLC molecular alignment may occur owing to the deformation of polymer networks accompanied by FLC molecular reorientation caused by the application of an electric field.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.