Determination of surface nematic liquid crystal anchoring strength using nano-scale surface grooves

Opt Express. 2013 May 20;21(10):12135-44. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.012135.

Abstract

Based on several nano-scale groove models, we propose a new technique to simultaneously determine the azimuthal and polar surface anchoring strengths of nematic liquid crystal (LC). The optical analysis of LCs on a grooved surface made by nanoimprinting lithography was performed on special alignment material, using a typical rubbing process. In our approach, using a polarizing microscope, we can determine the LC alignment exactly as it is in a parallel state, rather than a twisted state. This simple proposed method gives an accurate value of the surface LC anchoring of various surfaces, as well as simultaneously measuring the azimuthal and polar anchoring energy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Liquid Crystals / analysis
  • Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
  • Materials Testing / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Refractometry / instrumentation*
  • Surface Properties
  • Tensile Strength