AVS 50th International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Wednesday Sessions
       Session AS-WeP

Paper AS-WeP20
Ion Beam Alignment of Liquid Crystals on Polymer Substrates

Wednesday, November 5, 2003, 11:00 am, Room Hall A-C

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: S. Pylypenko, University of New Mexico
Authors: S. Pylypenko, University of New Mexico
K. Artyushkova, University of New Mexico
J.E. Fulghum, University of New Mexico
L. Su, Kent State University
L. West, Kent State University
Y. Reznikov, Ukraine Academy of Science
Correspondent: Click to Email
Liquid crystal alignment is generally obtained through rubbing methods that require direct contact with the alignment surface. Non-contact methods could solve many of the problems that result from rubbing. One of the latest non-contact techniques for alignment of liquid crystals, ion beam alignment, has become a promising substitute for the conventional method based on mechanical rubbing. Although LCD prototypes have been fabricated using the ion beam alignment technique, there is incomplete understanding of both the macroscopic and microscopic alignment mechanisms. Organic and inorganic alignment layers were studied using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Polarized Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-IR) to characterize chemical changes and surface anisotropy to the alignment substrate. The surface analytical characterization results have been correlated with measurements of liquid crystal alignment and pre-tilt angle measurement to enhance our understanding of non-contact alignment.