Surface reformation and electro-optical characteristics of liquid crystal alignment layers using ion beam irradiation

The surface modification characteristics of liquid crystal (LC) alignment layers irradiated with various argon (Ar) ion beam (IB) energies are examined as a substituted for rubbing technology. The chemical structure analysis has showed that the alignment ability of LCs is because of the preferential reorientation of the carbon network due to the breaking of C[double bond]O double bonds in the imide ring parallel to the incident IB direction.