Fabrication of single-substrate liquid crystal devices using two-step coating process

We have developed a new single-substrate-based liquid crystal (LC) device and its fabrication process using two-step polymer coating. The device contains a self-standing polymer-network/LC composite film and a polymer ceiling layer. The two films were sequentially formed on a substrate by photopolymerization- induced phase separation and solvent evaporation, respectively. The solvent of ceiling polymer was selected so as not to dissolve the polymer networks. The nematic director of LC alignment was controlled in forming the composite film by a rubbed alignment layer on the substrate. The fabricated LC device with homogeneous alignment exhibits electrooptic properties based on a tunable birefringence effect, when it was driven by comb-shaped electrodes on the substrate.