Planar degenerated anchoring of liquid crystals obtained by surface memory passivation

Weak anchoring of liquid crystals on solid substrates is usually dominated by the surface memory. We show that the memory can be removed by surface passivation by silane molecules. We realize planar, azimuthally degenerated, and memory-free anchorings without pretilt. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)03952-8].