Polarization axis-selective realignment of a photoreactive liquid crystalline composite with homogeneous alignment

Abstract

We investigated the photoalignment properties of a liquid crystalline composite. The composite consisted of a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal (LC) and a photoreactive liquid crystalline polymer containing 4-(4-methoxycinnamoyloxy)biphenyl side groups. Homogeneously aligned LC composite cells were fabricated using rubbed substrates and were then exposed to a linearly polarized (LP) ultraviolet (UV) laser beam. The alignment states of the LC composites were characterized using a LP visible laser beam. The LC composite in the cell was realigned by LP UV exposure and subsequent annealing. The direction of the realignment could be controlled by the polarization direction of the LP UV beam. The relationship between the realignment direction and the rubbing strength of the substrates was also investigated. A large realignment was induced in the LC composite cell when the azimuthal anchoring strength of the rubbed substrates was relatively weak.