LIQUID CRYSTALS

Dr A. Chandra Bose

INTRODUCTION
A liquid crystal is a thermodynamic stable phase
characterized by anisotropy of properties.
No three-dimensional crystal lattice.
Lying in the temperature range between the solid
and isotropic liquid phase.
They are also known as mesophase materials.
In other words liquid crystal exist in a state that
is intermediate to the liquid and solid states and
exhibit intermediate properties.

INTRODUCTION-COND.

At lower temperatures
the materials become
crystalline solid and at
higher temperatures they
turn in to clear isotropic
liquid.

INTRODUCTION-COND.
Liquid crystal materials generally have several
common characteristics.
Among these are a rod like molecular structure,
long axis, and strong dipole and/or easily
polarizable substituents.
A dipole is present when we have two equal
electric or magnetic charges of opposite sign,
separated by a small distance.
The distinguishing characteristic of the liquid
crystalline state is the tendency of the molecules
to point along a common axis, called the
director

INTRODUCTION-COND.

The study of liquid crystals began in 1888.

Austrian botanist named Friedrich Reinitzer observed
that a material known as cholesteryl benzoate had two
distinct melting points.
Reinitzer increased the temperature of a solid sample
and watched the crystal change into a hazy liquid. As
the temperature is increased further, the material
changed again into a clear, transparent liquid.
Because of this early work, Reinitzer is often credited
with discovering a new phase of matter - the liquid
crystal phase.

EXAMPLES OF LIQUID CRYSTALS

lecithin
DNA

cellulose

cholesterol
paraffin

Graphite
Soap

esters

solution
Saliva

TYPES OF LIQUID CRYSTALS

Thermotropic
Phase

transition depends on temperature

Nematic
Smectic

Cholesteric

Lyotropic
Phase

transition depends on temperature &

concentration

I) NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

The nematic phase is
characterized by long-range
orientational order, i. e. the long
axes of the molecules tend to
align along a preferred direction.
In nematic ordering the
molecules are aligned parallel to
each other but apart from this
the molecules are free to move
relative to each other so that the
material has liquid properties.

NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

T < TC1

TC1 < T < TC2

T > TC2

TC1 Melting point TC2 Isotropic Transition Point

Nematic

crystal changes the director direction

when comes in contact with solid (p-azoxyanisole).

SMECTIC PHASES
Smectic phases have
orientational order, and some
degree of positional order. These
phases are distinguished by the
presence of layers perpendicular
to the director. The figure to the
right shows the chemical
structure of a species with
several smectic phases.
The Smectic A phase has layers
oriented at 90 degrees to the
director. The Smectic C phase
has a director tilted with respect
to the layers.

SMECTIC

Chain molecules
of liquid crystals

aligned parallel
Form layer
structures

Lateral forces are

strong
interaction
between the

layers is weak
Found in soaps

CHOLESTRIC PHASE
Twisted

nematic or chiral

nematic
Nematic sheets stacked
The orientation of the
molecules
in each sheet is twisted
Director- directions of the
sheet
Optically Active- rotate the
plane
of polarization
Pitch- temperature
dependent

CHOLESTRIC PHASE

Phase was first discovered in

cholesterols

Colour effects

Wavelength to pitch ratioreflection, rotation, polarization

etc

Small Wavelength to pitch

ratio-polarized light rotates in
the same manner the director
does

LIQUID CRYSTAL STRUCTURES- COMPARISON

N-(p- Methoxy Benzylidene) p-n-Butylanaline Nematic

N-(p- Eethoxy Benzylidene) p-n-Butylanaline Nematic
Cholesterylerucate cholesteric
Cholesteryl Nonanoate cholesteric

LIQUID CRYSTALS FOR DISPLAY

Electro- Optic Properties

(Modification of Optical Properties by
electric field)

Modes of LCD operations

Dynamic Scattering

Twisted Nematic

DYNAMIC SCATTERING

E < Ec

E > Ec

Nematic No electric Field transparent - OFF

E < Ec No change in the molecular ordering

E>>Ec - molecules lie parallel to the direction field

Above Ec the current is carried by the ions

Moving ions produce movement of the liquid

Causes scattering of incident light

Gives frosted appearance to the material ON

Poor contrast, Short life time, More power consumption disadvantages

TWISTED NEMATIC MODE

Liquid crystal cell

~ 9 microns thickness

Transparent Conducting
coating Indium tin oxide

Surface treatment Polarizer

& Analyzer

COLOUR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

For a LCD to show colours must have three subpixels

with red, green and blue color filters.
Colour filters are used to create each color pixel.
In LCD monitors thin "sandwiches" of glass contain
liquid-crystal filled cells (red, green and blue cells )
that make up a pixel.
Arrays of TFTs (thin film transistors) provide the
voltage power causing the crystals to untwist and
realign so that varying amounts of light can shine
through each, creating images.
This particular sensitivity to light makes LCD
technology very useful in projection (such as LCD
front projectors), where light is focused through LCD
chips

MERITS & DEMERITS OF LCD

Passive display
-Requires No light

Consumes less power

Display fades away

slowly when power is
switched off-Dead pixels

than LED

Angle of view Is limited

No harmful radiations

Poor contrast

like in CRT

Temperature range 30

Very small in size

- thin films
Cheap
Liquid crystals can be
Temperature Sensor

100 C
Highly sensitive to
environmental
conditions