New Photo-aligning and Photo-patterning Technology: Superthin Internal Polarizers, Retarders and Aligning Layers

The photo-aligning materials based on azodye layers are proposed. The azodye aligning layers enable (i) high order parameter; (ii) excellent alignment quality of LCD with a high contrast ratio; (iii) temperature stability, suitable for LCD manufacturing; (iv) perfect adhesion and high voltage holding ratio due to the specific molecular groups (v) pretilt angle generation. The azodye layers can be used to fabricate thin internal patterned (pixelated) polarizers with different local orientations of the absorption axis and/or absorption colors. Our new methods allow to produce defect-free highly uniform alignment of lyotropic LC or iodine-doped azodye layers themselves with a fine resolution of the polarization pattern. The photo-aligned internal polarizers are cost-effective and enable new LCDs with excellent electro-optical response, including good viewing angles and high brightness. We prepared an internal phase retarder using UV-cured photo-polymerized material. 4-(6- acryloyloxyhexyloxy) benzoic acid had been synthesized and the synthesis procedure was modified for a better yield. We had shown that by applying an electric or magnetic field, the director deformation of the liquid crystalline monomer could be in-situ UV-cured for the optimal phase compensation generation.