Study on Azimuthal Anchoring Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals on Polyimide Films 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 properties 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 twist angle of TN cell for a photo-processed alignment layer with higher wettability is shown to be larger than that for a lower wetting cell. This result indicates that the wetting properties and the adsorption properties of LC on an alignment surface are important to achieve a strong anchoring state in a photo-alignment method.