We control the pretilt angle of liquid crystals (LCs) by simultaneously doping silica nanoparticles (SNs) and reactive monomers into the LC cell. Application of AC high voltage (ACHV) to the cell compels the lifting force and the facilitation of polar groups to move the SNs and monomers toward the substrate surface. Polymer networks and SNs are stabilized at the substrate surface after UV exposure, sustaining the LCs at high pretilt angles.
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