ALIGNMENT OF SURFACE-STABILIZED FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL CELL ON OBLIQUELY EVAPORATED SILICON MONOXIDE FILM

An alignment method for obtaining uniform surface stabilized ferroelec tric liquid crystal (SSFLC) cell is presented. The uniform alignment i s realized by ultrathin (<80 Angstrom) silicon monoxide (SiO) film eva porated at 80 degrees and the treatment of A. C. electric field. The a lignment effects of ultrathin SiO film, thick SiO film(> 1000 Angstrom ) both evaporated at 80 degrees C and the SiO film evaporated at 60 de grees on the FLC are described. The layer direction of FLC cell with u ltrathin SiO film at 80 degrees is perpendicular to that with thick fi lm at the same deposition angle. The advantage of the ultrathin film i s that the SSFLC cell aligned by it can be easily treated to perform p erfect bistability, excellent contrast and fast switching speed. An po ssible orientation mechanism on surface of oblique evaporation film is discussed.