Anchoring and Alignment Behavior of Liquid Crystals on Poly(vinyl cinnamate) Thin Films Treated in Various Ways

摘要

Poly(vinyl cinnamate) was chosen as a model alignment layer material, and its thin films were prepared and treated by various combinations of rubbing and linearly polarized ultraviolet light exposure. The surface morphology and polymer segmental orientation of the treated films were investigated in detail. Moreover, anchoring and alignment behaviors of nematic liquid crystals in the treated film surfaces were examined. The measured anchoring and orientation behaviors have been attempted to be understood with taking into account the surface characteristics and the oriented polymer chain segments of the films and their specific interactions.