Light shutters from antiferroelectric liquid crystals of bent-shaped molecules

We present novel scattering-type displays using antiferroelectric smectic phases of liquid crystals of bent-shaped molecules. There can be two distinct states ('racemic' and 'chiral') that work in opposite ways. The racemic structure is scattering in the OFF state and is optically clear under electric fields. The chiral structure is transparent at zero fields and is scattering in the field ON state. These two structures may be reversibly interchanged, implying their use in devices that consume energy only during switching from one stable state to the other.