Effect of the surface affinity of liquid crystals and monomers on the orientation of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal

We investigated the effect of the surface affinity of liquid crystals and reactive monomers on liquid crystal orientation. Liquid crystals and monomers having different contact angles with the vertical alignment polyimide were mixed and photo-polymerized using a UV light. Liquid crystals with smaller contact angles and reactive monomers with greater contact angles promoted a uniform vertical orientation of liquid crystals with a vertical polymer morphology. On the other hand, liquid crystals with greater contact angles and monomers with smaller contact angles resulted in a deformed liquid crystal orientation with an elliptical polymer structure.