Annealing effect on LC alignment using the photo-depolymerization reaction

광분해 반응을 이용한 액정배향에서의 어닐링 효과

We investigated the annealing effect on generating pretilt angle and aligning liquid crystal (LC) using the photo-depolymerization reaction in this study. In case of rubbing polyimide (PI) surface with the side chain, pretilt angle tends to increase with increasing the annealing time. It is considered because the steric interaction is increased by annealing which cause the side chain to come back to original position. For obliquely irradiating ultraviolet (UV) light on PI surface, pretilt angle shows to $0^{\circ}$ and is increased by annealing. The pretilt angle in rubbed PI surface is much higher than in photo-aligned PI surface. It is attributed to the steric interaction and the number of LC molecular arrangement on azimuthal direction. In addition. in case of obliquely irradiating UV light on PI surface. it showed LC alignment to increase by annealing. It can be regarded due to the fact that the re-alignment of LC molecule is improved to residual polymer direction by annealing.