Influence of polymer network in polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals and its direct observation using a confocal microscope

摘要

The paper presents the analysis of the three-dimensional polymer network distribution inside the polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid-crystal layer based on the laser scanning fluorescence confocal microscopy and a fluorescent dye tagging of the polymer. The studies of polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid-crystal structures described in this paper are focused on the comparison of the influence of polymer network in case that the polymerization is initiated in the chevron as well as in the quasibookshelf liquid-crystal molecular orientation. In the case of the chevron structure the regular distribution of the polymer network within the layer leads to the monostability of the chevron state. On the other hand the specific distribution of the polymer in the polymer-stabilized quasibookshelf stripe textures leads to the perfect bistability, improved multiplex driving, and analog gray scale capability.