Facile Fabrication, Photoinduced Orientation, and Birefringent Pattern Control of Photoalignable Films Comprised of N-Benzylideneaniline Side Groups.

Abstract

Facile fabrication of a photoalignable film from a nonphotoreactive polymethacrylate with 4-oxybenzaldehyde side groups (1) and a monomeric 4-methoxyaniline (2) composite is investigated. A 1/2 composite film fabrication and the annealing process form photoalignable N-benzylideneaniline (NBA) side groups, while the linearly polarized (LP) 365 nm light exposure to the resultant film induces sufficient molecular reorientation of NBA side groups. Furthermore, patterned coating of 2 on a 1 film and subsequent LP light exposure generate a patterned molecular orientation combined with controlled birefringence.