A self-aligned multi-domain liquid-crystal display on polymer gratings in a vertically aligned configuration

Abstract

We report on a new method of fabricating a vertically aligned multi-domain liquid-crystal display (LCD) using surface-relief gratings. A linear array of surface-relief gratings was produced by using a photosensitive polymer material coated on glass substrates by the illumination of the UV light through a photomask. The LCD cell was assembled with two substrates with polymer gratings in such way that the grating vectors were orthogonal to each other. In this LCD configuration, the nematic molecules were reoriented by distortions of an external electric field at the grating surfaces to make four different domains. The LC cell with self-aligned four domains shows excellent extinction in the off-state and wide-viewing characteristics in the on-state.