Photo-Aligned Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Devices with Novel Electro-Optic Characteristics

Abstract

<jats:p>This paper examines different applications of ferroelectric liquid crystal devices based on photo-alignment. Successful application of the photo-alignment technique is considered to be a critical breakthrough. A variety of display and photonic devices with azo dye aligned ferroelectric liquid crystals is presented: smart glasses, liquid crystal Pancharatnam–Berry phase optical elements, 2D/3D switchable lenses, and laser therapy devices. Comparison of electro-optical behavior of ferroelectric liquid crystals is described considering the performance of devices. This paper facilitates the optimization of device design, and broadens the possible applications in the display and photonic area.</jats:p>

33.2: Invited Paper: New electrooptical modes in photoaligned ferroelectric liquid crystals: physics and applications

“…) the response exhibits perfect V-shaped mode obtained for the case of rectangular alternating applied voltage pulses[2,3].…”

“…Field sequential color (FSC) FLC, which is now one of the most advanced technologies for micro-displays can be also made on the basis of new materials and electrooptical modes in FLC. The new fast responded FLC can be successfully applied in LC photonics devices such as switches, filters, lenses, and sensors [2,3].…”

“…We have obtained some good results in studying deformed helix ferroelectric (DHF) effect. In particular, a high quality dark state of DHF FLCD has been obtained as well as V-shape switching with a high frequency [2,4]. Two inherent properties of DHF-FLC have been observed : (i) similar to NLC cells, the electro-optical response is insensitive to the driving voltage polarity, but the response time is two orders faster as compared with NLC, i.e.…”

“…The mode is characterized by a high contrast ratio and very fast electrooptic response for new displays and photonics applications. DHF mode exists at V  Vc and the helix is completely suppressed by electric field at V Vc, where Vc is FLC helix unwinding voltage [2,3]. Despite of these similarities, it should be emphasized that at V > Vc, strictly speaking, there is no SSFLC mode but an electro-optical mode with completely electrically suppressed helix arises (ESH-mode).…”

“…An extensive work studying optical and electrooptical response of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC), as well as developing new FLC materials with advanced surface alignment was made [1]. The new photoalignment materials potentially capable of being used in photo-aligning technology for LCDs were developed [2].…”