Andreas Schuster

Photo-generation of linearly polymerized liquid crystal aligning layers comprising novel, integrated optically patterned retarders and color filters

For the first time photo cross-linking of linearly polymerizable polymers (LPPs) is shown to induce uniaxial planar alignment in adjacent liquid crystal polymer (LCP)-layers on single substrates. Ways and novel materials allowing integration of LPP-aligning layers with optical retarders in patterned, hybrid LPP-LCP-configurations with freely adjustable optical axes are presented. The novel multifunctional, anisotropic photopolymer configurations are shown to render in-situ optical retarders and polarization interference filters for black-white and color liquid crystal displays (LCDs) feasible. The molecular mechanisms inducing the anisotropic film properties and their thermal and optical stabilities are outlined. The photo-patternable, high resolution hybrid configurations are shown to exhibit excellent thermal and light stability.

Photo-Induced Alignment and Patterning of Hybrid Liquid Crystalline Polymer Films on Single Substrates.

By means of photo alignment and simultaneous cross-linking of linearly photopolymerizable (LPP)-polymers we have succeeded in generating uniaxial planar alignment in adjacent liquid crystal polymer (LCP)-films deposited on single LPP-substrates. It became thus possible to design optically anisotropic and photopatternable hybrid layers of LPP- and LCP-films on single substrates. Hybrid photopolymer configurations were made and are shown to render high resolution optical phase retarder images feasible. The new technology opens-up the possibility to generate and photopattern polarization interference color filters and color compensators integrated directly on liquid crystal display substrates. Moreover, the technology is the basis for new copy proof optical devices.