Open AccessAsymmetric Freedericksz transitions from symmetric liquid crystal cells doped with harvested ferroelectric nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Gary Cook,
Victor Reshetnyak,
Ronald F. Ziolo,
S. A. Basun,
Partha P. Banerjee,
Dean R. Evans
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.18.017339
Subject(s) - fréedericksz transition , materials science , ferroelectricity , liquid crystal , doping , nanoparticle , polarity (international relations) , optics , planar , condensed matter physics , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , physics , chemistry , dielectric , biochemistry , computer graphics (images) , computer science , cell
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.