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Alignment Of Smectic Liquid Crystal Molecules By Grated Glass And Silicon Substrates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

L. J. Martínez-Miranda ,
E. Smela  and
H. Liu
L. J. Martínez-Miranda
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Electrical Engineering, Philadelphia, PA 19104
E. Smela
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Electrical Engineering, Philadelphia, PA 19104
H. Liu
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Electrical Engineering, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Abstract

We present the results of a study of the effect of photolithographed gratings on glass and silicon wafers on the alignment of smectic liquid crystal molecules. The gratings have periods in the range of 200nm − 200µm, and depths of up to 2µm. We found that smectic liquid crystals align sharply along the gratings, depending on the temperature cycling method used in loading the sample. This result applies both to silicon gratings as well as glass gratings, despite the increased roughness observed in glass gratings. The quality of the alignment is uniform in the range 664nm − 24µm, and breaks down outside this region, setting lower and upper boundaries for grating preparation.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 345: Symposium M – Flat Panel Display Materials , 1994 , 205
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1994

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References

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