Controlling Orientation Direction of Discotic Columns Assembled in Microtrenches

Abstract

Microtrenches have been produced on the surface of a glass substrate using conventional photolithography technique. When subsequently deposited on the micro-patterned substrate, discotic triphenylene molecules are found to assemble into columns with orientational ordering. Homogeneous alignment of the discotic columns has been produced on the substrate with parallel microtrenches. The orientational direction of the discotic columns can be controlled using a set of controlling microtrenches. By properly modifying the topological structures of the controlling microtrenches we are able to tune the discotic columns assembled in the primary trenches to align either parellel or perpendicular to the walls of the trenches.

Keywords:

• disc-like molecules
• microtopological patterned surface
• microtrench
• discotic column orientation
• discotic column alignment

Acknowledgment

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC992221E110056).