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Collapse of Homeotropic Liquid‐Crystal Alignment by Increased Molecular Packing on Comb‐Like Polymer Surfaces
Author(s) -
Sohn EunHo,
Kang Hyo,
Kim DongGyun,
Song Kigook,
Lee JongChan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201200051
Subject(s) - homeotropic alignment , polymer , materials science , wetting , liquid crystal , planar , annealing (glass) , alkyl , crystallography , side chain , chemical physics , chemical engineering , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , computer graphics (images) , computer science , engineering
We report an unusual alignment behavior of liquid crystals (LCs) on well‐ordered comb‐like poly(oxyethylene) surfaces. The homeotropic LC alignments that are observed on as‐coated surfaces of the polymers are transformed to the random planar type after annealing treatment, even though the molecular structure of the polymer surface becomes more ordered and the surface energy decreases. Studies of the surface properties, such as molecular structure, morphology, and wettability, reveal that such an unexpected alteration of the LC alignment originates from the density of the alkyl side chains being enhanced by localized packing.