Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling

Nerea Sebastián (), Matija Lovšin, Brecht Berteloot, Natan Osterman, Andrej Petelin, Richard J. Mandle, Satoshi Aya, Mingjun Huang, Irena Drevenšek-Olenik, Kristiaan Neyts and Alenka Mertelj
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Nerea Sebastián: Jožef Stefan Institute
Matija Lovšin: Jožef Stefan Institute
Brecht Berteloot: Ghent University
Natan Osterman: Jožef Stefan Institute
Andrej Petelin: Jožef Stefan Institute
Richard J. Mandle: University of Leeds
Satoshi Aya: South China University of Technology
Mingjun Huang: South China University of Technology
Irena Drevenšek-Olenik: Jožef Stefan Institute
Kristiaan Neyts: Ghent University
Alenka Mertelj: Jožef Stefan Institute

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38749-2

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