Physicochemical Study on Liquid Crystal-Substrate Interfacial Interactions

Surface energies and liquid crystal MBBA orientations were investigated on substrates with organic layers. Polar and nonpolar contributions to the MBBA interfacial orientations were explained in terms of the chemical structures of the organic layers. Numerical calculations clearly showed that the liquid crystal interfacial orientation conditions are subject to liquid crystal and substrate surface energy differences in both polar and nonpolar components. Calculations agree well with the measured results on both MBBA orientation angles and anchoring strengths at the organic layer surfaces.