Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how photopatterning and flexoelectric effects can be used to create and control polarization patterns in ferroelectric nematic liquids, enabling new photonic device designs.

Contribution

It introduces a method to structure polarization patterns in ferroelectric nematic liquids using photopatterned alignment layers and flexoelectric effects, a novel approach in this material class.

Findings

Successful creation of periodic polarization structures

Guided polarization in uniform backgrounds

Potential for new ferroelectric nematic photonic devices

Abstract

The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic liquids incorporate to the functional combination of fluidity, processability and anisotropic optical properties of nematic liquids, an astonishing range of physical properties derived from the phase polarity. Among them, the remarkably large values of second order optical susceptibility encourage to exploit these new materials for non-linear photonic applications. Here we show that photopatterning of the alignment layer can be used to structure polarization patterns. To do so, we take advantage of the flexoelectric effect and design splay structures that geometrically define the polarization direction. We demonstrate the creation of periodic polarization structures and the possibility of guiding polarization by embedding splay structures in uniform backgrounds. The demonstrated capabilities of polarization patterning, open a promising new route for the design of ferroelectric nematic based photonic structures and their exploitation.