Relationship betweerr rubbing-induced anisotropy and surface azimuthal anchoring energy of nematic liquid crystals

摘要

The relationship between the rubbing-induced anisotropy of alignment films and the surface azimuthal anchoring energy of nematic liquid crystals was investigated using three kinds of rubbing cloths. Reflection ellipsometry revealed that the optical surface anisotropy of polyimide alignment films increases monotonically with increasing RS. The surface azimuthal anchoring energy measured by the torque balance method depends on the rubbing-induced anisotropy of alignment films. This indicates that liquid crystal molecular alignment can be controlled by monitoring the rubbing-induced optical anisotropy of alignment films when a suitable rubbing cloth is used.