Liquid Crystal Alignment Effect on Photopolymer Surface Using an Acrylate Unit Photopolymerized by a Photoinitiator

Abstract

Photoalignment materials of PGMAcr, poly[3-(acryloyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate] using an acrylate unit photopolymerized by a photo-initiator and PGMA4Ch, poly[3-(4-chalconyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate] using photodimerization by the chalcone group were synthesized. Also, the liquid crystal (LC) alignment capabilities on the photopolymer layers were studied. A good LC alignment with UV exposure on the PGMAcr surface can be obtained. However, LC alignment defects were observed on the PGMA4Ch surface. The LC alignment capability of the PGMAcr surface by the photoinitiator was better than that of the PGMA4Ch surface by the chalcone group which is a photosensitive moiety.