2C09 Effect of alkyl-amine vapor treatment on pretilt angle generation by photo-alignment film of azobenzene-containing-polyimide

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of alkyl-amine vapor treatment on pretilt angle generation by photo-alignment films of polyimide containing azobenzene in the backbone structure (Azo-PI). By performing alkyl-amine vapor treatment in preparing photo-alignment Azo-PI layers, the controllable range of the pretilt angle was extended at least up to 38° without appearance of threadlike disclination loops. We found that such a high pretilt angle was induced by the photo-alignment layers with a high inclination angle and narrow orientation distribution of the Azo-PI backbone structure in the out-of-plane direction.