Dynamics of surface memory effect in liquid crystal alignment on reconfigurable microwrinkles

Abstract

Microwrinkles generated by thin film buckling on elastic substrates serve as reconfigurable microgrooves that can align nematic liquid crystals (NLCs). Through rapid switching of the groove direction to generate controlled perturbation in surface-induced NLC alignment, we studied the dynamical behavior of the surface memory effect. Combined with annealing that resets the alignment memory, the time-dependent response to groove switching indicates that substantial memory develops in a few seconds after contact between the surface and the nematic phase.