Surface molecular alignment by in-plane anchoring in the cell showing the V-shaped switching

摘要

The surface molecular alignment in a sandwich cell showing V-shaped switching has been investigated using a photocontrolling method. The results indicate that the molecules on the rubbed surface are aligned parallel to the rubbing direction as in an open cell with an air-liquid crystal boundary. This alignment is due to strong in-plane anchoring, due to which the small twisted state appears along the cell thickness through intralayer molecular interaction.