Grinding ITO Film with Polypeptide Molecules in the Liquid Crystalline State

Abstract

When the liquid crystalline solution of Poly (γ-benzyl L-glutamate) (PBLG) was subjected to an AC field above a threshold voltage between two parallel plates coated by ITO film, we found that the electrooptical response of that abruptly ceased after a certain period of time. It was a cause that the quality of ITO film was degraded, e.g. the conductivity of ITO film reduced from the original value to the lower one. The ITO surfaces of plates used as electrodes under some different conditions were observed by AFM, SEM, SAM and the thickness was measured by the mechanical stylus. We are convinced that the degradation of ITO film is no more and no less than to be caused by grinding with PBLG molecules. The rate of decreasing the ITO film thickness depended on the voltage and the frequency of the external AC field and temperature.