Homogeneous self-aligned liquid crystals on wrinkled-wall poly(dimethylsiloxane) via localised ion-beam irradiation

Abstract

We demonstrate self-aligned liquid crystals (LCs) using a wrinkled-wall polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) wrinkle structure, which is a key factor to obtain a stable homogeneous alignment state with positive LCs. We constructed the wrinkled walls via localised surface exposure to IB radiation, which passed through a long length localised pattern mask. The creation of the wrinkled wall helped to align the LC molecules homogeneously because the wrinkled wall acted as a guide for the arrangement of positive LC molecules. In addition, we confirmed the stability of the alignment state as the width of the wrinkled wall was changed. Although this wrinkled-wall method is a non-contact method, LC alignment is achieved via an anisotropic topographical guide, which provides the LC molecules with stable homogeneous alignment.