Determination of Nematic Liquid Crystal Elastic and Dielectric Properties from the Shape of a Capacitance-Voltage Curve

Abstract

This paper shows how capacitance-voltage curves can be used to determine nematic liquid crystal dielectric and elastic constants and surface tilt angles. Careful analysis of the C-V curves reveals that distortion free energy theory is useful up to a V/V_c of about two. A detailed curve of tilt angle as a function of SiO deposition angle is also presented along with temperature variation in liquid crystal properties. Pentylcyanobiphenyl (5CB) was used throughout the study.