Alignment of liquid crystals generated by [2 + 2] cycloaddition in alignment layers

In this manuscript, photo-sensitive polysulfone thin layers, CMPSF200-HCx thin layers, are utilized to vertically align liquid crystals (LC) accompanied with linearly-polarized UV light (LPUV) exposure. CMPSF200-HCx thin layers are highly transparent and the optical performances of CMPSF200-HCx thin layers are little alternated after LPUV exposing. Vertical alignment of LC between CMPSF200-HC70 thin layers is due to the surface energy alternation generated from [2 + 2] cycloaddition between >C=C< unites, which occurs under LPUV exposing. LC vertically aligned between CMPSF200-HC70 thin layers could be electrically driven to switch at 3.45V, and the total response of LC has been evaluated as 27.941ms. Highly transparent and photosensitive CMPSF200-HC70 thin layers are a competitive candidate in photo-aligning LC.