Abstract:
We analyse the influence of adsorbed ions and the resulting surface electric field and its gradient on the anchoring properties of nematics with ionic conductivity. We take into account two physical mechanisms for the coupling of the nematic director with the surface electric field: (i) the dielectric anisotropy and (ii) the coupling of the quadrupolar component of the flexoelectric coefficient with the field gradient. It is shown that for sufficiently large fields near saturated coverage of the adsorbed ions, there can be a spontaneous curvature distortion in the cell even when the anchoring energy is infinitely strong. We also discuss the director distortion when the anchoring energy of the surface is finite.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 29 September 1997 / Received in final from: 10 November 1997 / Accepted: 18 November 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barbero, G., Evangelista, L. & Madhusudana, N. Effect of surface electric field on the anchoring of nematic liquid crystals. Eur. Phys. J. B 1, 327–331 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050190
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050190