Pretilt Angle Generation of Liquid Crystals by Azobenzene-Containing Monolayers upon Slantwise Non-Polarized UV Light Irradiation

摘要

Azobenzene-containing monolayers with three-dimensional photocontrollability of nematic liquid crystal (LC) alignment were conveniently prepared through surface adsorption of an azobenzene derivative with an aminoalkyl residueonto a poly(acrylicacid)film. For LC cells fabricated with the monolayers, slantwise irradiation with non-polarized UV light led to tilted alignment ofLC molecules. The three-dimensional LC photocontrollability of the monoiayers significantly depended on the surfece density of the photoactive azobenzene moiety and the dielectric anisotropy of LCs.