Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/M02569/01
Title:	FLEXOELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS AND DEVICES FOR BISTABLE DISPLAYS
Principal Investigator:	Kelly, Professor S
Other Investigators:	Stirner, Dr T Toyne, Professor K O'Neill, Professor M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Chemistry
Organisation:	University of Hull
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 October 1998	Ends:	30 September 2001	Value (£):	162,994
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
It is the purpose of this programme to investigate for the first time the flexoelectric behaviour of nematic liquid crystals. This will involve the synthesis of new flexoelectric nematic liquid crystals and their evaluation for bistable nematic displays with improved optical performance. Current bistable nematic LCDs, such as ZBDs, operate with standard nematic mixtures (E7): the development of new flexoelectric nematic liquid crystals and non-contrast alignment layers and processes will lead to fast-switching, high-information -content bistable nematic LCDs with significantly improved performance. Valuable IPR for new chemical entities, alignment processes for standard LCDs and bistable nematic LCDs should be generated. New addressing techniques will be investigated in collaboration with industrial partners and DERA. A variety of measurements will be performed, including determination of flexoelectric coefficients, birefringence, elastic and dielectric constants, viscosity, response times. The results of these measurements will be used to model the dependence of optical performance on mixture properties. The programme is inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional with a high training content and of direct industrial relevance to chemical and electronic manufacturing companies in the displays industry.
Key Findings
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Organisation Website:	http://www.hull.ac.uk