Inverse Mode of Ion-Surfactant Method of Director Reorientation Inside Nematic Droplets

• Published in: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Vol. 512; no. 1; pp. 152/[1998] - 157/[2003]
• Main Authors: Krakhalev, M. N., Prishchepa, O. O., Zyryanov, V. Ya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis Group 01-01-2009; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: 61.30.-v; 61.30.Hn; Boundary layer; Codes 61.30.Pq; electrically commanded surfaces; ion surfactant; Ions; Liquid crystal polymers; nematic; polymer dispersed liquid crystals; surface anchoring; Surfactants
• ISSN: 1542-1406; 1563-5287; 1527-1943
• DOI: 10.1080/15421400903050814

Inverse mode of a novel electrooptical effect caused by the ionic modification of boundary conditions has been studied for liquid crystal droplets. We have considered the droplets of nematic 5CB doped with cationic surfactant cetyl-trimethyl-ammonium-bromide and dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol. In the initial state the surface anchoring was normal on the whole interface due to the high concentration of homeotropic surfactant. Applied voltage results in the purification of a section of the interface from the surface-active cations thereby restoring here a tangential anchoring and stimulating the significant transformation of droplet structure. At that three different types of director field distribution can be realized within the same droplet. The proper textures of the droplet both in the crossed polarizers and without analyzer are considered.