Open AccessVoltage-controlled formation of short pitch chiral liquid crystal structures based on high-resolution surface topography
Author(s) -
Inge Nys,
Jeroen Beeckman,
Kristiaan Neyts
Publication year - 2019
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.27.011492
Subject(s) - liquid crystal , materials science , optics , grating , voltage , helix (gastropod) , resolution (logic) , electric field , optoelectronics , physics , ecology , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , snail , computer science , biology
Chiral nematic liquid crystals (CLCs) offer interesting perspectives for device applications and are fascinating materials to study because of their ability to self-assemble into complex structures. This work demonstrates that narrow lines of electron-beam resist on top of an ITO coated glass surface can dramatically influence the formation and growth of short pitch chiral superstructures in the bulk. By applying a voltage to the cell, directional growth of CLC structures along the corrugated surface can be controlled. Below the electric unwinding threshold, chiral structures start to grow along the grating lines with their helical axis parallel to the substrates. This results in a uniform lying helix-like structure at intermediate voltages and a chiral configuration with periodic undulations of the helical axis at low voltages.