Surface gliding of the easy axis of a polymer-stabilized nematic liquid crystal and its dependence on the constituent monomers

We studied the easy axis gliding of a polymer-stabilized nematic liquid crystal. The easy axis of the liquid crystal was slowly reoriented in the presence of an electric field, and the gliding process was approximated to the triple exponential functions. The different dynamics is considered to be related to the morphology of the polymers formed on the surface and in the bulk. The initial orientation of the easy axis was recovered by the elastic restoring force of the polymers after removal of the electric field. The gliding angle and reorientation time were decreased with the longer constituent monomers, and this is considered to be due to the increased anchoring and reduced surface viscosity by the increased fraction of the polymers intersticed in a liquid crystal near the surface.