Photoalignment of nematic liquid crystal by polystyrene exposed to linearly polarized deep UV light

Abstract

We studied the photoalignment of a nematic liquid crystal (LC) by polystyrene exposed to linearly polarized deep UV light (LPDUV). The polystyrene aligned the LC parallel to its irradiated polarization axis. The retardation of the polystyrene and the order parameter of the dye used as the dopant in nematic LC increased slowly with the LPDUV dosage. The slow optical axis of the LPDUV-exposed polystyrene was perpendicular to the LPDUV axis.