Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals: Physics and Applications

Abstract

Electrooptic modes with fast response and high contrast ratio are highly desirable in modern photonics and displays. Ferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs) are especially promising for fulfilling these demands by employing photoalignment technology in FLC cells. Three electrooptic modes including surface stabilized FLC (SSFLC), deformed helix ferroelectric (DHF) mode, and electrically suppressed helix (ESH) mode are reviewed with the corresponding electrooptic effects like bi- and multi-stable switching, continuous modulation of grayscale or phase, and high contrast switching. The general operation principles FLC electrooptic modes are described, and then the characteristics of each modes for potential applications are summarized. With the advantages of controllable anchoring energy, the photoalignment provides FLC samples with uniform alignment and high contrast ratio. The fast FLCs with a high resolution and high contrast can be used in the next generation display including field sequential color FLC microdisplays, as well as switchable 2D/3D televisions.

52‐1: Invited Paper: Liquid Crystal Materials and Devices for Displays and Photonics

“…The new liquid crystals materials are highligthed for display and photonics applications [2], including (i) fast high resolution LC display devices, such as field sequential color ferroelectric LCD [3]; (ii) LC sensors [2]; (iii) LC lenses [4]; (iv) LC E-paper devices, including electrically and optically rewritable (ORW) LC E-paper and security films [5]; (v) photo induced semiconductor quantum rods alignment for new LC display applications [6]; (vi)100% polarizers based on photoalignment [7]; (vii) LC smart windows with voltage controllable transparency [8]; (vii) LC antenna elements with a voltage controllable frequency and direction of radiation [9]. Special attention should be paid to photoalignment technology which will be a key technology in the nearest future.…”

“…Usual thickness of azo-dye layer is about 10-15 nm, which make them very cheap and efficient for LC alignment. Photoalignment enables to solve many problems of FLC [3]: (i) mechanical stability, no defects; (ii) avoiding of FLC domains for a high spontaneous polarization; (iii) optimal anchoring energy with a very high contrast ratio; (iv) wide viewing angles; (v) very high resolution and fast response time.…”

“…At the same time application of ferroelectric LC (FLC) for displays and photonics devices, such as fast high resolution LC display devices, such as field sequential color ferroelectric LCD; (ii) FLC sensors; (iii) fast FLC diffraction gratings; (iv) FLC shutters etc. can enable LC devices with microsecond response time and very high resolution [3].…”

Self-Assembling Behavior of Smart Nanocomposite System: Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Confined by Stretched Porous Polyethylene Film

“…For the last few decades, self-assembling materials represent a fascinating area of dynamic research, which provides a highlighted approach for design of new structures with predefined functionality [ 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Chiral smectic liquid crystalline (LC) materials belong to one of the most exciting classes of such organic materials that are able to self-assemble in a polar layered structure of nanometer scale [ 11 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. The self-organization structure of such compounds, and hence their favorable electro-optic, structural, and dielectric properties, can be adjusted by a proper design of molecular architecture build up from various units [ 15 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Liquid Crystal Optics and Physics: Recent Advances and Prospects

“…The simulated results showed that the sensitivity could reach as high as 9.164 MHz/(V/m) and the smallest resolution was 0.1115 V/m. Dr. Qi Guo et al reviewed three electrooptic modes including surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals, the deformed helix ferroelectric mode, and electrically suppressed helix mode [7]. The general operation principles…”