Photoalignment of liquid crystalline materials: physics and applications

This book systematically examines current research into photoalignment technology, presenting the physical principles and the potential application of photoaligning materials for the efficient working of liquid crystal devices. As well as covering state-of-the-art techniques and key applications, the authors present their own diffusion model for photoalignment. The book begins with a full examination of the mechanisms of photoalignment and then looking at the properties of liquid crystals during photoalignment, including its effect on their chemical structure and stability. The following chapter sets out several methods for photoalignment of liquid crystals, leading to potential applications,such as novel liquid crystal display (LCD) devices. INDICE: About the Authors 1 Introduction References 2Mechanisms of LC Photoalignment 2.1 Cis-Trans Isomerization 2.2 Pure Reorientation of the Azo-Dye Chromophore Molecules or Azo-Dye Molecular Solvates 2.3 Crosslinking in Cinnamoyl Side-Chain Polymers 2.4 Photodegradation in Polymeric Materials 2.5 Photoinduced Order in Langmuir Films References 3 LC Surface Interaction in a Photoaligned Cell 3.1 Pretilt Angle Generation in Photoaligning Materials 3.2 Generation of Large Pretilt Angles 3.3 Anchoring Energy in Photoalignment Materials 3.4 Stability of Photoaligning Materials Sensitivity to UV Light 3.5 Comparisonof the Characteristics of Photoalignment Layers for Different Mechanisms of LC Photoalignment 3.6 Various Methods for the Experimental Characterization of Photoalignment Layers References 4 Photoalignment of LCs 4.1 Vertical LC Alignment 4.2 Twisted LC Photoalignment 4.3 Photoalignment of Ferroelectric LC 4.4 Optical Rewritable LC Alignment 4.5 Photoalignment with Asymmetric Surface Anchoring 4.6 LC Photoalignment on Plastic Substrates 4.7 Photoalignment on Grating Surface 4.8 Photoalignment of Lyotropic and Discotic LCs 4.9 Other Types ofLC Photoalignment References 5 Application of Photoalignment Materials in Optical Elements 5.1 Polarizers 5.2 Retardation Films 5.3 Transflective LCD with Photo-Patterned Polarizers and Phase Retarders 5.4 Security Applications of Photoaligning and Photo-Patterning 5.5 Optical Elements Based an Photoaligning Technology References 6 Novel LCDs Based on Photoalignment 6.1 Bistable NematicDisplays 6.2 Photoaligned Liquid-Crystal-on-Silicon Microdisplays 6.3 Photoaligned Ferroelectric LCDs 6.4 New Optical Rewritable Electronic Paper 6.5 Application of Photoalignment in Photonic LC Devices References 7 US Patents Related to Materials and Processes for Photoalignment of Liquid Crystals, Liquid Crystal Displays, Optical Liquid Crystal Devices and Elements, and Non-Display Applications 7.1 Introductory Remarks 7.2 List of Patents Patent Classification 7.3 Analysis and Comments on the Patents Index

• ISBN: 978-0-470-06539-6
• Editorial: John Wiley & Sons
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 232
• Fecha Publicación: 06/06/2008
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés