Nematic-Substrate Interaction and the Boundary Layer Phase Transition

摘要: Substrate alignment of liquid crystals is an essential element in the functioning a crystal display device. While primary role treated substrate to anchor nematic director at solid-liquid interface some pre-designed manner, it has been pointed out earlier work1 that if similar anchoring effect exists for orientational order parameter S, then would also induce boundary layer, extending about 1000 A from substrate, within which can be significantly different bulk. In particular, this mean molecules vicinity possess finite degree ordering even when bulk isotropic -- property whose experimental utilization led eventually observation surface-induced effect.2