A Ferroelectric Layer in a Cell Containing a Polar Molecular Mixture in Nematic and Isotropic Phases

A polarization switching current has been observed in a cell containing highly polarized molecules, which normally takes a nematic phase, with highly polarized orientation films for a triangular-voltage waveform both in the nematic and isotropic phases. The observed polarization current is thought to originate from the switching of the longitudinal dipole moments of the moelcules which form the layers that are made of decomposed liquid crystal monomers adsorbed on the orientation films. The results suggest the existence of a ferro-electric layer in the vicinity of the orientation layers in the cell.