Measurement of the azimuthal anchoring energy of TN cells using a photo-alignment technique

Abstract

In order to achieve a strong anchoring state in a photo-alignment method, we have studied the azimuthal anchoring energy of twisted nematic (TN) cells fabricated by a photo-alignment technique. Two types of polyimides having different wetting properties of liquid crystal (LC) are used as an alignment layer. The azimuthal anchoring energy for a photo-processed alignment layer with higher wettability is shown to be higher than that for a lower wetting sample. This result indicates that, for realizing a strong surface anchoring state in a photo-alignment method, the wetting properties of LC on an alignment surface is important to achieve a strong anchoring state in a photo-alignment method.