Anomalous uniform domain in a twisted nematic cell constructed from micropatterned surfaces

We have discovered an optically uniform type of domain that occurs in Twisted Nematic (TN) cells that are constructed from substrates chemically patterned with stripes via microcontact printing of Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAM); such domains do not occur in TN cells constructed from uniform substra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Atherton, T J, Sambles, J R, Bramble, J P, Henderson, J R, Evans, S D
Format Paper Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 16.12.2008
Subjects
Anchoring
Design parameters
Domains
Elastic anisotropy
Liquid crystals
Organic chemistry
Physics - Soft Condensed Matter
Rubbing
Self-assembled monolayers
Self-assembly
Substrates
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Summary:We have discovered an optically uniform type of domain that occurs in Twisted Nematic (TN) cells that are constructed from substrates chemically patterned with stripes via microcontact printing of Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAM); such domains do not occur in TN cells constructed from uniform substrates. In such a cell, the azimuthal anchoring at the substrates is due to the elastic anisotropy of the liquid crystal rather than the conventional rubbing mechanism. A model is presented that predicts the relative stability of the twisted and anomalous states as a function of the material and design parameters.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.0812.2961