Planar and Homeotropic Liquid Crystal Alignment on 3D-Nanoprinted Layers and Microstructures

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Liquid Crystal Displays

Background:

• Precise liquid crystal (LC) alignment is crucial for LC applications.
• Traditional alignment methods use surface topography or chemical interactions, often limited to flat surfaces.
• Two-photon polymerization (2PP)-based direct laser writing (DLW) offers nanoscale precision but is underexplored for 3D LC alignment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate 2PP-based DLW for engineering LC alignment using combined surface topography, material chemistry, and 3D geometry.
• To demonstrate advanced LC alignment capabilities beyond flat surfaces.
• To explore novel 3D microstructures for tailored LC orientation.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 2PP-based DLW for fabricating microstructures with controlled surface topography and chemical properties.
• Integrated topographical and chemical alignment mechanisms on a single substrate.
• Fabricated 3D microstructures including prisms, capillaries, and fully printed cells with integrated spacers.

Main Results:

• Achieved patterned planar-homeotropic alignment on a single substrate.
• Demonstrated controlled twisted nematic configurations in 3D-printed cells without post-assembly alignment.
• Successfully functionalized 3D nanoprinted microstructures with chemical alignment agents.

Conclusions:

• 2PP-based DLW is a versatile platform for advanced LC alignment.
• This approach enables the fabrication of complex 3D microstructures with tailored LC orientation.
• Potential for developing functional microstructures that act as alignment components for future LC devices.