Dependence of the molecular orientational states on the surface conditionsfor the "V-shaped switching" in a ferroelectriclike liquid crystal sample - art. no. 040701

The three-component mixture showing the V-shaped switching in a rubbing cel l is investigated using a temperature gradient cell (TGC) where the epitaxi al method of alignment, but without an alignment layer, is used. The molecu lar alignment and the switching characteristics in a TGC are compared with the rubbing sandwich and the open cells. The uniform or the twisted state i s observed in the TOC, depending on the surface condition whether indium-ti n oxide (ITO) or glass, while the uniformlike state with the average optica l axis parallel to the smectic layer normal emerges only in the rubbing cel l. The cancellation of the surface polarization charges by the surface free charges on the ITO surfaces determines the molecular alignment state in th e TGC. From these results, we conclude that the nonpolar in-plane anchoring plays an important role in giving a uniformlike state in the rubbing cell.