Photoalignment of liquid crystals on photo-cross-linkable polymer films by linearly polarized UV light

Abstract

We describe the synthesis of a new photoreactive polymer liquid crystal (PLC) and the photoalignment control of liquid crystal on PLC films by linearly polarized (LP) UV light irradiation. The irradiated PLC film showed negative dichroism and the homogeneous LC alignment can be achieved on the irradiated PLC film. The alignment direction was perpendicular to the E of the LP-UV light, and was changed parallel to E when the irradiation time was long.