Shock-free ferroelectric liquid crystal displays with high optical contrast

Shock-free ferroelectric liquid crystal displays with high optical contrast and low operating voltage are the concern of this contribution. Ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions with a wide temperature range of the chiral smectic C phase are designed. The influence of the chiral fragments of the molecules, especially their length, on the mechanical stability of the SmC* phase has been investigated. The relation between the surface anchoring energy of the aligning polymer and the viscoelastic properties of the SmC* phase has been described. Our qualitative model reflects the resistance of the SmC* layer structure against mechanical and thermal action. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3530444]