Electro- and photosensitive azopolymer for alignment of liquid crystals

We report an electro- and photosensitive metal containing polymer material for alignment of liquid crystals (LCs). Irradiation with polarized light and/or application of dc-field result in an anisotropy of the polymer and formation of an easy orientation axes of a LC on the polymer surface. The light-induced anisotropy of the polymer and the LC anchoring on the polymer surface can be controlled by the low dc-field at room temperature.