Electro-optic switching behaviour of a novel shortpitch ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture

Electro-optic effects have been studied in a shortpitch (ρ₀=0.43 μm), large spontaneous polarization (P_s =90 nC/cm²) ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture. The material in the form of thin films was sandwiched between polyimide coated transparent conducting glass plates. The sample alignment was planar in an electric field without shearing. Disclination loops appeared at low voltages and were then removed at higher voltages to obtain a `bookshelf´ structure which gives higher contrast. This material shows bistability, fast switching times (40 μsec at 8 V/μm) and multiplexability. These are useful parameters for the operation of a fast electro-optic liquid crystal display device