Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.401, 181-187, 2003
Fully-leaky guided mode measurement of the flexoelectric constant (e(11)+e(33)) of a nematic liquid crystal
The response to applied voltages of the director profile within an E7-filled Hybrid Aligned Nematic liquid crystal cell has been determined by using the optical wave-guide method known as the Fully-Leaky Guided Mode Technique. Data was collected with applied AC and DC voltages and the measured director profiles were compared with, model profiles generated through a minimisation-of-free-energy routine. The sum of the splay and bend flexoelectric coefficients (e(11) + e(33)) of E7 was measured as 1.5x 10(-11) Cm-1. Results also show the presence of a DC offset voltage of + 0.64 V in the cell.