Electro-optical switching of a thin antiferroelectric liquid crystal film in the planar geometry with evaporated top electrode

An antiferroelectric liquid crystal phase formed by bent-shape molecules was investigated in a geometry typical of solid-state technology. A thin Langmuir film of the compound was transferred onto a conductive glass and supplied with a top electrode evaporated in vacuum. Upon heating the sandwich keeps its integrity even in a high-temperature B 2 phase which, despite strong confinement, manifests antiferroelectric and electrooptic properties similar to those in bulk samples. This approach fills the gap between investigations of solid and liquid crystal ferroelectrics and open new ways for studying dielectric, ferro- and antiferroelectric properties of thin and ultrathin films of liquid crystals.