Fabrication of Optically Designed Multidomain Layer Structure using Azo-Dye-Doped Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Having N*‒C* Phase Sequence

Abstract

We proposed an optical fabrication method of designed multidomain structure in an azo-dye-doped ferroelectric liquid crystal with chiral nematic (N*) – chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase sequence (NC-FLC). This layer alignment control is based on the N*−SmC* phase transition induced by the photoisomerization of doped azo-dye. This photo-assisted layer switching can be applied to the fabrication of the designed multidomain structure in the electrooptic elements such as display, optical memory and optical grating. Anomalous layer switching upon the electric field has also been observed.