Jf. Hubbard et al., Coupling of the remanent polarisation in thin film oxide ferroelectrics with nematic liquid crystals, J MAT CHEM, 9(2), 1999, pp. 375-380
The technique of domain visualisation, revealed by a film of nematic liquid
crystal (NLC) on a ferroelectric crystal substrate, is demonstrated for th
e first time to be applicable to thin films of lead zirconate-lead titanate
(PZT) ferroelectric ceramics. PZT film thicknesses <1 mu m were deposited
on indium tin oxide coated glass substrates. Commercially available NLC mat
erials with positive dielectric anisotropy were employed. The electro-optic
properties of devices incorporating the ferroelectric ceramic and NLC are
reported. The poled PZT grains induce a local Freedericksz transition in th
e NLC and it is proposed that the ferroelectric-NLC interaction is primaril
y due to the depolarisation field due to the ferroelectric remanent polaris
ation.