Abstract
Ferroelectricity is desirable for realizing fast-response liquid crystal devices. Existing ferroelectric liquid crystals are improper with the spontaneous polarization Ps being indirectly induced by the broken centrosymmetry of molecular arrangement. We found that Langmuir monolayers of certain dialkylated nematic compound exhibit a laterally polarized two-dimensional ferroelectric nematic. The Ps is comparable to that of chiral smectic liquid crystals, and shows a fast linear electro-optic switching with a microsecond response. Estimates of electrostatic energy suggest that the ferroelectricity may be driven by the direct dipolar interactions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | L406-L409 |
| Journal | Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Part 2: Letters |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 4 B |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 Apr 15 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Achiral molecule
- Dipolar interaction
- Intrinsic ferroelectricity
- Langmuir monolayer
- Nematic liquid crystal
- Spontaneous polarization
- Two-dimensionality
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
- Physics and Astronomy(all)