Liquid-Crystal Aligning Capabilities Using a New Photodimerization Method on a Poly (4′-methacryloyloxy chalcone) Surface

The effects of liquid-crystal (LC) alignment and electro-optical (EO) characteristics of photoaligned twisted-nematic (TN)-LC display (LCD) on a PMCh (poly (4′-methacryloyloxy chalcone)) surface using a new photodimerization method were investigated. Photopolymer layers were exposed by linearly polarized UV during heating at 100°C. Excellent voltage-transmittance (V-T) of photodimerized TN-LCD on the PMCh surface for 1 min using the new photodimerization method was observed. The voltage-holding ratio (VHR) of the photodimerized TN-LCD on the PMCh surface using the new photodimerization method is higher than that of the conventional photodimerization method. We suggest that the new photodimerization method for LC aligning is the most promising rubbing-free technique.