Influence of the bias-voltage on the anchoring energy for nematic liquid crystals

The influence of the bias-voltage on the anisotropic part of the nematic surface energy is analyzed. Theexperimental data show a strong dependence of the anchoring strength on the bias-voltage when the electrodesof the nematic cell are covered with WO3. The observed dependence can be interpreted taking into account theions dissolved in the liquid crystal. We propose a model in which the effect of the bias-voltage is to collect theions near the electrodes, in a surface layer whose thickness is of the order of the Debye’s screening length. Thesurplus of electric field due to this ions confinement gives rise to an electrostatic contribution to the totalenergy that can be considered as a surface energy. The proposed model is in good agreement with theexperimental data. The model is used to interpret the observed independence of the anchoring strength on thebias-voltage when the ~indium-tin-oxide! electrode is covered with a film of polyimide, or it is without anycovering. The influence of a charge emission from the electrodes under the bias voltage on the anchoringenergy is also analyzed. Possible applications of the observed phenomenon are discussed.