Orientation and photoalignment behavior of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers at solid and polymer interfaces

Abstract

LC molecules adopt specific orientations when they contact with various interfaces such as solids or free interfaces. Understanding the effect of various interfaces on mesogen orientation is important for applications of LC materials. In this study, we evaluated the orientation of side-chain LC polymers at a glass interface and polymer interface by GI-SAXS measurements. The LC orientation at solid interfaces differs from that at the free interface. Furthermore, we discuss on the photoalignment behaviors of mesogens at free surface and polymer interface.