Non-contact alignment of liquid crystals

Abstract

Liquid crystal displays (LCD), the main application of liquid crystals, require a uniform alignment induced by the confining substrates for their quality and function. The surface alignment of liquid crystals refers to the orientation of the liquid crystal director at the substrate surface. This boundary effect plays an essential role in determining the behavior of the bulk phase. A vast number of basic studies of the liquid crystal properties also rely on this prerequisite uniform alignment.