Spatial and orientational control of liquid crystal alignment using a surface localized polymer layer

We present an alignment method for the surface contacting liquid crystal (LC) director. This method allows complete control of the polar pretilt angle as a function of position in a liquid crystal device, and has the potential of controlling the azimuthal orientation of LC. Important considerations of this method are to form a thin layer of reactive monomers at the LC cell interior surface, and to control the deleterious effects of flow due to polymerization induced concentration gradients. To achieve these, the voltage and frequency of the applied electric field and the UV intensity during the polymerization process are significant. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4773010]