Homeotropic alignment of columnar liquid crystals in open films by means of surface nanopatterning

Columnar liquid crystals (LCs) are reported to align spontaneously homeotropically -that is, orthogonally to the surface (see figure and inside cover) on a glass surface covered with a layer of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) transferred by friction (rubbing). This strategy for producing macroscopic monodomains of homeotropically aligned LCs may find important applications in the fabrication of LC-based organic solar cells.