Abstract
A novel liquid crystal alignment method has been successfully developed. The alignment layer was made of a hydrogenated amorphous carbon film (a-C:H). At atmospheric pressure, the surface of the film was treated by a low temperature argon plasma jet. Experimental results showed that uniform alignment of the liquid crystal (ZLI-2293) has been achieved with a pretilt angle of 2.32° in a twist nematic cell. The alignment effects by this method are attributed to the directional scanning treatment by the plasma jet and C{single bond}O and C{double bond, long}O bonds formed on the surface of the alignment layer. Compared with the ion beam and plasma beam methods, this novel technique provides a more simple and continuous in-line plasma process for the LC alignment. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.