Alignment of Liquid Crystals by Copying an Aligning Function of Polymer Films into a UV Cured Polymer Surface

Abstract
We have successfully fabricated liquid crystal (LC) alignment layers of UV cured polymer without using linearly polarized light or direct rubbing treatment. The LC aligning function of polymer films in the direction of their slow axis or rubbing can be copied onto the UV cured polymer surface in the curing process and the polymer films can be used repeatedly. Twisted nematic cells are prepared using substrates coated with the UV cured polymer and a rubbed polyvinylalcohol (PVA) film, and their electro-optical properties are measured.