Asymmetric Freedericksz transitions from symmetric liquid crystal cells doped with harvested ferroelectric nanoparticles

Opt Express. 2010 Aug 2;18(16):17339-45. doi: 10.1364/OE.18.017339.

Abstract

The electrical Freedericksz transition characteristics of planar aligned liquid crystal cells doped with harvested single ferroelectric domain 9 nm nanoparticles of BaTiO(3) have been measured. We demonstrate for the first time that the electrical pre-history of the cells imparts significant polarity sensitivity to the Freedericksz characteristics. The presence of harvested single domain ferroelectric nanoparticles enables cells to be programmably semi-permanently polarized. This reduces or increases the Freedericksz transition threshold by 0.8 V, depending on the polarity of the applied voltage, giving a net 1.6 V Freedericksz threshold asymmetry for 8 mum thick cells filled with TL205 liquid crystal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electricity
  • Light*
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Refractometry / methods*
  • Scattering, Radiation*