Multi-Domain Liquid Crystal Alignment by Micro-Contact Printed Polymer Layers

Abstract

We proposed a patterning method of liquid crystal (LC) alignment layers for producing multi-domain LC structures. It was demonstrated that conventional LC alignment materials could be selectively patterned by controlling the surface wetting properties of a patterning material during micro-contact printing procedures. The proposed patterning method was particularly simple and, thus, easily applicable to several LC devices in enhancing or designing electro-optic properties by using multi-domain LC structures.

Keywords:

• liquid crystal alignment
• liquid crystal
• micro-contact printing
• multi-domain liquid crystal structure
• patterned alignment layer
• surface wetting

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant (F0004052) from Information Display R & D Center, one of the 21st century Frontier R & D program funded by the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Energy of Korean government.