2a01 Bistable Surface of Nematic LCs Induced by Using the Oblique UV Irradiation Photo Alignment Method and the Switching of Bistable Textures by the Flexoelectric Effect

Abstract

A bistable surface for nematic LCs has been proposed, It was fabricated by using the optical alignment method on the vertical alignment film with the oblique irradiation technique of the polarized UV light. Our research group has also confirmed using a special vertical alignment film witch shown the weak surface anchoring. In this study, the bistable switching depend on the polarity of applying electric field was reported. The nematic LC, ZLI-4792 (Merck), was used. As a reason of the polarity switching, it was expected that the flexoelectric polarization was induced due to the hybrid orientation of the LC directors in the cell.