Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

Electrooptical properties of PDFLC samples, aligned by shearing, are investigated. Experimental results on apparent switching angle, dynamical switching behaviour at different electric fields, and multistable response of PIPS PDFLC are presented. A qualitative model of the PDFLC behaviour is suggested to explain the results. The model considers FLC in the droplets as FLC gel, the polymer network throughout the droplet as continuous or broken, and domain wall switching at the chevron interface inside the droplet allowed by the broken or prohibited by the continuous network. The multistability is explained as being due to completed switching in microdomains of the PDFLC droplet or caused by stabilization of instantaneous domain wall positions by the network.