Memory effect in polymer-liquid crystal composites

The experimental study reveals a connection between topological defects and the memory effect in polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films. By examining the influence of temperature during film fabrication, it was found that pre-heated samples develop a large number of large-scale disclinations. The distortion of the director field caused by these disclinations leads to the formation of degenerate orientations for liquid crystal molecule relaxation. This, in turn, reduces the anchoring energy and gives rise to the memory effect.