Control of spatially modulated electric liquid crystal convection

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the control of liquid crystal convection with a spatially modulated electric field given by patterned electrodes. As a patterned electrode, a glass substrate coated with photo-etched indium tin oxide (ITO) was used, where the surface was given a hexagonal array of bare grass substrate. With a patterned electrode, we observed the oscillation in the direction of the convection roll localized at the area where the coating of ITO remained. Furthermore, we observed the oscillatory pattern showed a traveling wave, as well as a spiral and target pattern.