Twisted nematic field effect
Twisted nematic
- Date
- 1911 · confidence high
- Place
- Paris, France
- Credited to
- Charles Mauguin (1911)
- Field
- Matter & energy
⚠️ Disputed: the sources disagree.
What was discovered
Discovery of the twisted nematic structure of liquid crystals, in which molecules form a helical twist between two surfaces; decades later this property became the basis of liquid crystal displays (LCD).
The twisted-nematic effect that revolutionized displays is usually credited to Schadt, Helfrich, and Fergason (1970-1971); this entry corresponds to Mauguin's original 1911 discovery of the twisted structure that made it possible.
What it led to
- liquid crystal displays (LCD)
- low-power digital watches and calculators
- flat-panel displays that displaced CRTs
- portable electronics with screens