Abstract
Alignment of Liquid Crystals (LCs) has been mostly achieved by microscopically anisotropic surfaces. It is widely believed that anisotropic van der Waals interaction is responsible for the alignment of LCs. We report that isotropic surfaces can align LCs as well when patterned topologically, chemically, and electrically. Stripe-patterned surfaces were produced by photolithography, having periodicity of several microns. The surfaces have either undulation (high and low, topological), alternating polar easy axes (planar and homeotropic, chemical), or alternating conductivity (conducting and non-conducting, electrical). LCs were aligned perpendicularly to the electrical pattern, in contrast to the topological and chemical patterns to which LCs were aligned tangentially. Topologically patterned isotropic surfaces align LCs by the well-known Berreman mechanism. In this report, it is analytically shown that elastic anisotropy and flexoelectricity are responsible for the azimuthal anchoring of LCs on the chemically and electrically patterned surfaces, respectively.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.