Relation between the molecular orientation of a liquid crystal monolayer and the underlying polyimide film exposed to linearly polarized ultraviolet light.

We have determined the relation between the in-plane anisotropy of the molecular orientation of a liquid crystal (LC) monolayer and the underlying polyimide film exposed to linearly polarized ultraviolet light (LPUVL). To evaluate the anisotropy of the LC monolayer and the polyimide film, the sample orientation dependence of the polarized infrared absorption spectrum was measured. The in-plane anisotropy of the LC monolayer was found to be proportional to that of the polyimide film, the proportionality factor being about 75%. This result strongly suggests that the alignment of the LC molecules in contact with the LPUVL-exposed polyimide film is induced by an interaction between the polyimide and LC molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]