Manipulation of microparticles using surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals (Invited Paper)

We propose a strategy for a micromanipulation method using surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals (SSFLC). By adjusting the frequency of the applied ac electric field, the surface layers that cannot follow an applied ac electric field are constructed in SSFLC. In addition, by applying a sawtooth wave voltage, net flow along the smectic layer is generated. The flow direction is reversed by changing the polarity of the sawtooth wave. Consequently, the particles dispersed in SSFLC can be driven bidirectionally along the smectic layer. The particle velocity depends on the temperature, amplitude and frequency of the applied voltage.