Orientation of liquid crystal monolayers on polyimide alignment layers: A molecular dynamics simulation study

Abstract

Detailed Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations of 8CB molecules and monolayers situated on crystalline polyimide surfaces were performed with an emphasis on understanding the origin of molecular tilt and macroscopic pretilt. As a result, a microscopic picture of the monolayer arrangement above two crystalline polyimide surfaces was established. The results indicate that such surfaces can serve as model systems to study the influence of microscopic surface corrugation and surface symmetry on the alignment behavior.