OPTIMIZING PHOTOELECTRIC PROPERTIES AND KERR CONSTANTS OF VERTICALLYALIGNED FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTAL CELLS FOR ADVANCED VEHICLE DISPLAY SYSTEMS

Abstract

This study investigates the photoelectric properties and Kerr constants of vertically-aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) cells driven by horizontal electric fields, focusing on applications in vehicle display systems. The research examines the effects of electrode configurations, specifically varying electrode widths (w) and spacing (s), on birefringence and modulation performance. FLC cells were fabricated with three configurations: w = 4 μm, s = 8 μm (Sample A), w = 4 μm, s = 24 μm (Sample B), and w = 8 μm, s = 12 μm (Sample C). Experimental methods included polarized optical microscopy and transmittance-voltage (T-V) measurements, revealing that narrower electrode spacing generated stronger electric fields and faster transmittance changes but were more susceptible to defect formation at higher voltages. Kerr constants were calculated from the T-V data, with Sample B exhibiting the highest Kerr constant (K = 0.769 nm/V²), highlighting its superior modulation capabilities. These findings demonstrate the trade-offs between electrode spacing, electric field strength, and defect stability. The optimized performance of FLC cells offers significant potential for advanced vehicle display applications, including heads-up displays (HUDs) and augmented reality (AR) interfaces, which require high clarity, rapid response, and durability under dynamic driving conditions. This study provides a framework for developing next-generation optical systems tailored to the automotive environment.