Factors in liquid crystal photoalignment on polymer films: photoorientation versus self-assembly

We demonstrate that photostimulated self-assembly, running in parallel with molecular photoorientation in the top layer of the aligning polymer film, breaks the bulk molecular order mainly determined by the symmetry of irradiation. This may substantially modify liquid crystal (LC) alignment. Dependi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inLiquid crystals Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 149 - 157
Main Authors Yaroshchuk, O., Chigrinov, V., Nadtoka, O., Kwok, H.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis 01.02.2006
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Summary:We demonstrate that photostimulated self-assembly, running in parallel with molecular photoorientation in the top layer of the aligning polymer film, breaks the bulk molecular order mainly determined by the symmetry of irradiation. This may substantially modify liquid crystal (LC) alignment. Depending on the chemical composition of the liquid crystal, the self-assembled layers may influence either homeotropic or planar LC alignment with extremely weak azimuthal anchoring. Effective self-assembly occurs in polymers having side chain chromophores with flexible spacers and polar terminal groups.
ISSN:0267-8292
1366-5855
DOI:10.1080/02678290500393032