Multistable nematic liquid crystal device using nanoscopically patterned surface alignment

The results of recent efforts along the directed bottom-up approach as applied to artificial two-dimensional nanostructuring of liquid crystals are presented. The study focuses on the use of the stylus of the atomic force microscope to nanoscopically treat the surface anchoring in such as way as to implement an orientationally patterned surface. The bistable orientation offers practical use in any low-power consumption electrooptic applications of liquid crystals. Apart from flat panel displays, the bistable structure is also valuable in telecommunication device applications of liquid crystals where a great demand exists for dynamically reconfigurable networking switches.