V-Shaped switching and interlayer interactions in ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract

Linear electrooptic responses in ferroelectric liquid crystals can be achieved via thresholdless switching. The molecular parameters for the design of ferroelectric liquid crystals that may yield a thresholdless response have not been delineated so far. In this article we explore some of the chemical design features that may be utilised in controlling switching processes, and we develop property–structure correlations in order to achieve materials that exhibit thresholdless behaviour.