Cooperative liquid-crystal alignment generated by overlaid topography

Nematic and smectic liquid crystals were introduced into μm-scale gaps between plates coated with polymer films nanoimprinted with parallel arrays of rectangular channels. Overlaying the channels on the two plates close enough at a slight angle produces a mosaic of alternating planar and homeotropic alignments and hybrid alignment, showing that complex liquid-crystal orientation patterns can be achieved by combining two simple topographic patterns. These alignment patterns are attributed to spatial variation of surface roughness and 3D topographic structure created by a sufficient proximity of the two patterns.