Ion transport in SSFLCD's

Abstract An essential feature of surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal displays (SSFLCD) is their bistability. Experiments and theory show however that this bistability can be destroyed by ionic charges building up at both electrodes. In this article a better understanding of the ion concentration distribution and their transport behavior is obtained through leakage current measurements on FLC cells with bipolar voltage driving. We also present a model for the ionic transport that can explain the measured current curves. Simulations according to this model fit the experimental data. In this way we derive some important parameters concerning the ionic behavior.