• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.671-677
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• 2018

In this paper, we investigated the vertical alignment characteristics of liquid crystals (LCs) on fluorinated self-assembled monolayers (FSAMs). For comparison, a commercialized homeotropic polyimide (PI) layer was used as an LC alignment layer. We confirmed the successful deposition of FSAMs and the change of FSAMs before and after rubbing treatment through contact angle measurement and atomic force microscopy. The optical transmittance spectrum of the FSAMs is similar to that of the homeotropic PI layer, which is a superior optical characteristic applicable to LC devices. When FSAMs were applied to the vertically aligned (VA) LC cell, uniform and vertical LC alignments were achieved. In addition, the voltage-transmittance characteristic of VA LC cell with FSAMs was superior to that of VA LC cell with the conventional homeotropic PI layers. These results indicate that the FSAMs are suitable as the homeotropic LC alignment layer for enhanced LC devices.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.08a
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• pp.299-302
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• 2007

We propose a soft-lithographic patterning method for producing a multi-domain liquid crystal (LC) alignment. The LC alignment polyimide layers are periodically patterned in the pixel boundaries by a micromolding-in-capillaries method. In our structure, the initially homeotropic LC orientations in the pixel areas are changed to axially symmetric LC domains due to the symmetric pretilt of LC molecules on the pixel boundaries.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1019-1022
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• 2003

We studied the nematic liquid crystal (NLC) aligning capabilities using the new alignment material of a-C:H thin film as working gas at 30W rf bias condition. A high pretilt angle of about 5$^{\circ}$ by ion beam(IB) exposure on the a-C:H thin film surface was measured. A good LC alignment by the IB alignment method on the a-C:H thin film surface was observed at annealing temperature of 250$^{\circ}C$, and the alignment defect of the NLC was observed above annealing temperature of 300$^{\circ}C$. Consequently, the high LC pretilt angle and the good thermal stability of LC alignment by the IB alignment method on the a-C:H thin film surface as working gas at 30W rf bias condition can be achieved.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.08a
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• pp.1114-1117
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• 2004

We investigated the liquid crystal (LC) alignment phenomena using hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) thin films. For LC alignment, the surface of a-C:H thin films is treated with low energy ion beam. We investigated the relationship between the properties of a-C:H thin films and LC alignment phenomena.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2006

In this study, liquid crystal (LC) aligning properties for homeotropic alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation method with electron beam system in accordance with the evaporation angles were investigated. Also, the control of pretilt angles homeotropic aligned LC on $SiO_x$ thin film as the function of the evaporation angles were studied. The uniform vertical LC alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film surfaces with electron beam evaporation was achieved with all of the thin film angle conditions. It is considerated that the LC alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation is attributed to elastic interaction between LC molecules and micro-grooves at the $SiO_x$ thin film surface created by evaporation. The values of the pretilt angles according to the evaporation angle were from about $0.7^{\circ}$ to about $3.4^{\circ}$. The highest pretilt angles of about $3.4^{\circ}$ in aligned NLC on the $SiO_x$ thin film surfaces by electron beam evaporation were measured under the condition of $45^{\circ}$. Also, good LC alignment states on the treated $SiO_x$ thin film layer by electron beam evaporation were observed at annealing temperature of $250^{\circ}C$. Consequently, the high pretilt angle and the good thermal stability of LC alignment on the $SiO_x$ thin film by electron beam evaporation can be achieved.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1457-1461
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• 2013

The effect of liquid crystal (LC) alignment on a homeotropic polyimide (PI) surface induced by ion beam (IB) irradiation and rubbing process was studied. LC alignment was not affected by IB irradiation with an exposure time of 10 s, and an IB irradiation with an exposure time of 60 s more effectively oriented the LCs on the PI layer than the rubbing process. It was assumed that the LC alignment depended on the C-O bonds created from the C=O bonds on the PI surface broken by IB irradiation after an exposure time of 60 s, which resulted in a strong surface energy that transformed the homeotropic LC alignment to homogeneous states.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.305-308
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• 2006

We have studied liquid crystal (LC) aligning capabilities for homeotropic alignment and the control of tilt angles on the $SiO_{x}$ thin film by electron beam evaporation method. A high tilt angle of about $86.5^{\circ}$ was obtained, and also the suitable tilt angle of the NLC on the $SiO_{x}$ thin film at $20{\sim}50\;nm$ thickness with e-beam evaporation can be achieved. The uniform LC alignment on the $SiO_{x}$ thin film surfaces with electron beam evaporation can be achieved. It is considerated that the LC alignment on the $SiO_{x}$ thin film by electron beam evaporation is attributed to elastic interaction between LC molecules and micro-grooves at the $SiO_{x}$ thin film surface created by evaporation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.321-326
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• 2021

We fabricated BiAlO thin film by a solution process with a brush coating to be used as liquid crystal (LC) alignment layer. Solution-processed BiAlO was coated on the glass substrate by brush process. Prepared thin films were annealed at different temperatures of 80℃, 180℃, and 280℃. To verify whether the BiAlO film was formed properly, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed on Bi and Al. Using a crystal rotation method by polarized optical microscopy, LC alignment state was evaluated. At the annealing temperature of 280℃, the uniform homogenous LC alignment was achieved. To reveal the mechanism of LC alignment by brush coating, field emission scanning electron microscope was used. Through this analysis, spin-coated and brush coated film surface were compared. It was revealed that physical anisotropy was induced by brush coating at a high annealing temperature. Particles were aligned in one direction along which brush coating was made, resulting in a physical anisotropy that affects a uniform LC alignment. Therefore, it was confirmed that brush coating combined with BiAlO thin film annealed at high temperature has a significant potential for LC alignment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.214-218
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• 2003

We studied the nematic liquid crystal (NLC) aligning capabilities by the UV alignment method on a diamond like carbon (DLC) thin film surface A good LC alignment by UV exposure on the DLC thin film surface at 200${\AA}$ of layer thickness was achieved. Also, a good LC alignment by the UV alignment method on the DLC thin film surface was observed at annealing temperature of 180$^{\circ}C$. However, the alignment defect of the NLC was observed above annealing temperature of 200$^{\circ}C$. Consequently, the good thermal stability of LC alignment by the UV alignment method o the DLC thin film surface can be achieved.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.484-492
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• 2003

How the characteristics and stability of the rubbing-induced alignment of nematic liquid crystals (LCs) relate to the interfacial characteristics of LC-polyimide has been studied. The characteristics of the LC alignment (such as the LC texture, the pretilt angle, and the anchoring energy) and their thermal stability have been investigated for 5 polyimides synthesized for this work. The work showed that the rubbed polyimide alignment layer induces the strong LC anchoring and that the characteristics and stability of LC alignment are determined by the short-ranged interactions between LC and polyimide molecules at the alignment layer surface. The increased flexibility of the polyimide accelerates thermal imidization, increases the pretilt angle, and improves the alignment stability. It also turned out that fluorination of the polyimide tends to deteriorate the alignment uniformity and stability. No distinct differences in the alignment characteristics were shown for the aromatic- and alicyclic-dianhydride polyimides.