PRESSURE-DEPENDENCE OF THE ELECTROOPTIC RESPONSE FUNCTION IN PARTIALLY EXPOSED POLYMER-DISPERSED FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS

Ferroelectric liquid crystals in a new configuration, termed partially exposed polymer dispersed ferroelectric liquid crystal (PEPDFLC), res pond to external pressures and demonstrate pressure-induced electro-op tic switching response. When the PEPDFLC thin film is sandwiched betwe en two transparent conducting electrodes, one a glass plate and the ot her a flexible sheet such as polyvenylidene fluoride, the switching ch aracteristics of the thin film are a function of the pressure applied to the flexible transparent electrode and the bias voltage across the electrodes. Response time measurements reveal a linear dependence of t he change in electric field with external pressure.