Bistability of left- and right-handed π -twist states in a pixel-isolateddual-frequency nematic liquid crystal cell

The authors propose a bistable nematic liquid crystal cell which has two stable states of left- and right-handed π -twist. The switching between the two states is achieved by using a dual-frequency liquid crystal material and sequential waveform of low and high frequencies. Each state is stabilized by a multidimensional anchoring effect of a pixel-isolating polymer wall without any chiral additives. Therefore, the elastic free energies of left- and right-handed π -twist states are almost the same. As a result, the two states show superior retention time in spite of the topological equivalence.