The switching between on and off states of nematic liquid crystal pixels can be controlled with the well-known electro-optic effect. This effect however presents a fast response at switching on the electric field but a slow response at switching it off. Here we show a suitable choice of materials, cell geometries, surface preparations, and time dependence of the applied voltage that leads to a switch off response as fast as that at switch on. This is due to the particular conductivity mechanism in polymers with aromatic rings leading to rectifying properties when deposited on top of indium tin oxide surface. A transient negative charge at polymer–liquid crystal interface favors a faster and stronger planar orientation of the nematic molecules diminishing drastically the switch off time and increasing the contrast ratio. These facts, interesting enough from a fundamental point of view, could also lead to important technological consequences.