Characteristics of Monostability in Asymmetrically Treated Surface-Stabilized Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Cells

Surface-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal (SSFLC) with monostable state in asymmetrical cells was studied. We investigated some kinds of SSFLC cells which were treated asymmetrically with two substrate surfaces using some liquid crystal materials including isotropic-nematic-smectic A-smectic C (INAC) phase-sequence materials and short-pitch bistable ferroelectric liquid crystal (SBFLC). The C I-uniform state, the quasi-bookshelf state of INAC materials and SBFLC showed monostability in asymmetrical cells. We compared the characteristics of monostability in some asymmetrically treated cells which have an insulating layer only on one substrate. We also investigated the effects of spontaneous polarization on the monostability. We discuss the origins of monostability in asymmetrical cells referring to experimental results.