The interaction of poled thin film ferroelectrics with nematic liquid crystals

Nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) have been widely used to image the static an d dynamic domain structure that occurs in poled ferroelectric crystals. The interaction mechanism is influenced by both the coupling of the ferroelect ric polarisation with the NLC and the effect on the surface anchoring of th e NLC director due to the ferroelectric substrate. This paper reports the f ormation and observation of poled structures in thin film ferroelectric cer amic systems incorporated in a novel liquid crystal device architecture. Hy brid display devices combining thin film oxide ferroelectrics (OFEs) with N LCs are described. The OFEs are of the lead zirconate-lead titanate, Pb(Zr0 .30Ti0.70)O-3(PZT 30/70) system, are under 1 mu m thick, transparent and ar e combined with commercially available NLCs. Visualisation of poled domains within the OFE is demonstrated. The mechanism of coupling the polarisation of the OFE with the orientation of the NLC is described and preliminary re sults are discussed.