Thin nematic films: Anchoring effects and stripe instability revisited

We study theoretically the formation of long-wavelength instability patterns observed at spreading of nematic droplets on liquid substrates. The role of surface-like elastic terms in nematic films of submicron thickness is (re)examined by extending our previous work to hybrid aligned nematics. We identify the upper threshold for the formation of stripes and compare our results with experimental observations. We find that the wavelength and the amplitude of the in-plane director undulations can be related to the small but finite azimuthal anchoring. Within a simplified model we analyse the possibility of non-planar base state below the Barbero–Barberi critical thickness.

► Threshold for stripe instability in thin nematic films is reconsidered.
► The role of azimuthal anchoring is examined.
► Connection with recent experiments is established.
► Modified Barbero–Barberi condition is derived within a simple model.