Phase separation structure and electric field response of liquid crystal director in highly oriented liquid crystal / polymer composite films

Abstract

Polymer structure and azimuthal distribution of liquid crystal director in a highly oriented polymer / liquid crystal composite film doped with a fluorescent monomer and a dichroic dye were observed using confocal laser-scanning microscope equipped with a polarization rotation unit. The initial state of the liquid crystal director in the film was uniform homeotropic alignment, but it was found that the liquid crystal directors in each domain partitioned by the pillar-shaped polymer structures are tilted in different azimuthal directions by application of an electric field. On the other hand, liquid crystal director changed as a single domain in the thickness direction under the electric field.