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V. S. Bezruchenko^1,2, A. A. Muravsky¹, A. A. Murauski¹, A. I. Stankevich, V. V. Mahilny²

Author affiliations
¹Institute of Chemistry of New Materials NAS of Belarus,
36 F. Skoriny St., Minsk, 220141, Belarus
²Physical Department of Belarusian State University,
4 Nezavisimosti Ave., Minsk, 220030, Belarus. 
E-mail: Veronika.Bezruchenko@gmail.com

Abstract
The ability to control locally the tilt angle of nematic liquid crystals by alignment material opens up new possibilities for LCD devices creation. This paper presents the liquid crystal alignment material, which allows local control of pretilt angle via simple treatment processes: azimuthal alignment direction is specified by rubbing, and pretilt angle depends on local irradiation with nonpolarized UV light. However, testing of the copolymer reveals defects in liquid crystal alignment, which arise due to the low azimuthal anchoring energy of alignment materials with the molecules of the LC. To increase the anchoring energy in order to reduce the probability of defects in liquid crystal, addition of polymer with high azimuthal anchoring energy to the pretilt gradient alignment material is introduced.

Keywords: tilt angle, alignment material, photosensitive polymer, azimuthal anchoring energy