[en] Recent examinations on binary chiral-dopant antiferroelectric liquid crystalline mixtures revealed an unusual switching behaviour. In order to investigate the switching processes that take place in the mixtures, both in the bulk and as influenced by surfaces, further electrooptic and dielec- tric spectroscopy studies have been carried out on two model binary mix- tures in the induced SmA*, SmC* and SmCA* phases. The dielectric spectra feature the different modes typical for these phases, but of varying purity, indicating a more complex phase behaviour than expected. The electrooptic behaviour in the antiferroelectric phase varied from clearly antiferroelectric to near hysteresis-free switching directly between ferro- electric states. We conclude that the phase sequence, and consequently switching behaviour, is a function of both the type of dopant used and of the strength of the surface interactions (cell thickness). In thin cells syn- clinic (ferroelectric) ordering appears to be favoured.
[Chalmers University of Technology]
