Controllable LC anchoring on poly{1-[4-(3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenylazo) benzenesulfonamido]-1,2-ethanediyl, sodium salt} command surface

Herein we present a comprehensive evaluation of the side-chain azobenzene-containing polymer as photoalignment command surface for nematic Liquid Crystal (LC) device assembly. Decomposition of birefringence creation dynamics was used to elucidate the relation between the photoinduced illumination intensity, pre-tilt angle and anchoring strength at the LC/photopolymer interface. The electro-optical parameters such as threshold voltage, response time and the phase retardation of assembled LC cell were characterized for actinic intensities up to 100 mW/cm². In azimuthal plane, controlling the illumination intensity improved the anchoring strength by two orders of magnitude and allows to manipulate the LC director at will. Direct impact of the enhanced zenithal anchoring on LC devices decay time during Fréedericksz transition was also demonstrated.