A new class of bookshelf bistable siloxane modified ferroelectric LC materials with electrical repairability in an LCoS configuration

Abstract

Investigation of siloxane-based ferroelectric liquid crystals (Si-FLCs) has revealed chevron-free long-term bistable behavior and, unusually, an easy regeneration of bistable performance after damage (e.g., by mechanical shock). The properties are intrinsically related to the chemical structure of the oligosiloxane materials. The phenomena result from the coupling of siloxane and organic moieties that causes nano-phase segregation, which essentially reduces the correlation of tilting from adjacent layers and also generates weak anchoring by decoupling the bulk structure from the strong surface anchoring. A method of regenerating a condition with bistable performance by an electric field (without mechanical and heat treatment) is established. An in-house Si-FLC over a silicon (Si-FLCoS) device is demonstrated, which exhibits good memory effects without chevron defects and a repair function for regenerating bistability in case of damage.