Method for Alignment of Liquid Crystals Using Irradiated Liquid Crystal Films

KSU.188

This invention is a new promising technique for liquid crystal (LC) alignment, and can be used in manufacturing information displays and electro-optical devices.  The invention uses a thin LC film as the photoalignment material.  Alignment is achieved by UV-exposure of a LC film deposited on a solid substrate by spin coating of the solution of LC in an organic solvent.  The alignment may be the result of light-induced arrangement of LC molecules and their attachment to the substrate surface.  This method does not require special aligning polymer layers.  It is also possible to control many basic aligning parameters, such as the direction of the easy axis of orientation of the LC and its anchoring energy.

Applications: 

•          Manufacturing of information displays
•          Manufacturing of electro-optical devices

Advantages:

•          No polymer materials needed
•          Easily obtainable multi-domain alignment,
•          No dust or static electricity is produced (as in the rubbing method).

Inventors:  Dr. John L. West, Dr. Yuri Reznikov, Dr. Oleg Yaroshchuk