Liquid crystal aligning using different approaches

Abstract

Abstract In the current paper the classical and new relief at the interface: solid substrate-liquid crystal mesophase is presented in order to orient the liquid crystal molecules with good advantage. Rubbing technique, some geometric construction at the interface, UV and VIS treatment of the polymers, and laser oriented method are shown. The last one is connected with the materials surface relief modification using the laser-matter interaction process by the application of the IR CO2–laser at the wavelength of 10.6 micrometers. As the efficient nano-objects applied for the relief improvement the carbon nanotubes with the small refractive index close to 1.1 and the large Young’s modulus are used. As an additional, the varied electric field of 100-600 V/cm is applied in order to deposit the carbon nanotubes at the materials surfaces in the vertical position and to form the covalent bonding between the carbon atoms and the model matrix materials surface atoms. The novel results are shown in comparison with that obtained before for the classical orienting liquid crystal molecules methods. It extends dramatically the area of the liquid crystal cells use.