Nanoimprinting-lithography-induced self-aligned liquid crystals for novel multifunctional optical films

Polymerizable nematic liquid crystal (LC) was adopted as a resist for our newly developed nanoimprinting lithography process. Liquid crystal molecules were self-aligned during imprinting process without precoated alignment layer. The large patterned area was able to achieve 4×4cm2 at very low impriting pressure, 1.5bar. The optical anisotropic was verified through polarized optical microscopy and the retardation was measured by polarized ultraviolet/visible spectrometer. The micrograted LC films prepared by this novel method offer the potential applications for a LC alignment layer within LC cells, as well as preparation of optical anisotropic films.