Thin film surface orientation for liquid crystals

Abstract

Vacuum-deposited films now replace the familiar ``rubbing'' process in substrate preparation for liquid-crystal cells. Films deposited at an angle provide an oriented surface for alignment of nematic liquid crystals far better than the well-known ``rubbed'' plate. The oblique deposit causes a film growth in a preferred direction, which results in a ``sympathetic alignment'' of the nematic liquid crystals when applied.