7th World Nano Conference

Biography

Biography: Vladimir G. Chigrinov

Abstract

Photoalignment possesses obvious advantages in comparison with the usually “rubbing” treatment of the substrates of liquid crystal display (LCD) cells [1]. The liquid crystal photoalignment is nano-technology, as the thickness of the alignment layer is about 2-15 nm. The photoalignment materials can be very useful for the new generation of the liquid crystals displays and photonics devices [2]:rnPhotoalignment possesses obvious advantages in comparison with the usually “rubbing” treatment of the substrates of liquid crystal display (LCD) cells. Possible benefits for using this technique include:rn(i) Potential increase of manufacturing yield, especially in LCDs with active matrix addressing, where fine tiny pixels of a high resolution LCD screen are driven by thin film transistors on a silicone substrate;rn(ii) New advanced applications of LC in fiber communications, optical data processing, holography and other fields, where the traditional rubbing LC alignment is not possible due to the sophisticated geometry of LC cell and/or high spatial resolution of the processing system;rn(iii) Ability for efficient LC alignment on curved and flexible substrates;rn(iv) Manufacturing of new optical elements for LC technology, such as patterned polarizers and phase retarders, high resolution optical sensors, tunable optical filters, polarization non-sensitive optical lenses, with voltage controllable focal distance, patterned nano-rods structures etc.rnNanolayer photoalignment can be very useful for the new generation of the liquid crystals devices as well as in new photovoltaic, optoelectronic and photonic devices based on highly ordered thin organic layers. Examples of such applications are light emitted diodes (OLED), solar cells, optical data storage, nano-rods and holographic memory devices. The novel and highly ordered layer structures of organic molecules may exhibit certain physical properties, which are similar to the aligned LC layers.rn The physical mechanisms and characterization of the photoaligning technique, as well as the application for liquid crystal devices, including displays and photonic devices will be reviewed. rn