title: Alignment of liquid crystals using a molecular layer with patterned molecular density.
abstract: The surface of self-constructed molecular density modulation (SDM) exhibits a wide range of liquid crystal alignment capabilities including planar, tilted, and homeotropic alignments, disclination-free uniform and heterogeneous alignments, and even spatially varying alignments through the single non-contact process. Alignment defects are eliminated by temporary lowering the frictional energy barrier via the open-boundary elastic stabilization (OES) treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Wang-Cheol
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Zin
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takezoe
authors.forename: Jang-Kun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D054802:Molecular Imprinting / Q000379:methods*