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Controlled nano structures on solution-processed inorganic/organic film for liquid crystal application

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for optical, photonic and optoelectronic applications
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Abstract

Ultraviolet (UV) nanoimprint lithography (NIL) was performed using a hybrid solution of ZnO and UV-curable polymer. The concentration of the UV-curable polymer was varied as 5, 10, and 15 wt.%, and the surface was analyzed for each film. Physical modification of the surface morphology was analyzed by atomic force microscopy, and the clearest pattern was confirmed at 15 wt.%. Through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, it was confirmed that the difference in the concentration of the UV-curable polymer caused a difference in the atomic and bonding composition on the film surface. Through optical transmittance measurements, it was observed that all of the patterned ZnO hybrid films exhibited sufficient transmittance. To investigate liquid crystal (LC) alignment, each of these films was assembled into an antiparallel structure to fabricate LC cells. Using polarized optical microscopy and thermal stability tests, it was confirmed that the LC cells fabricated with the 15 wt.% solution showed the most stable LC alignment. Moreover, pretilt angle measurements showed that the most stable transmittance curve was obtained with the 15 wt.% LC cell. The relationship between the height of the groove pattern and alignment of the LC molecules was analyzed using Berreman’s model.

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Highlights

  • Nanoimprint lithography was performed by coating a hybrid solution of zinc oxide and UV-curable-polymer.

  • Surface modification was analyzed through AFM, TEM, XRD, and XPS.

  • It showed good LC alignment performance when cured for 15wt%.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (grant No. 2022R1F1A106419211).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The IT Nano Electronic Device Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-749, Republic of Korea

    Dong Hyun Kim, Ju Hwan Lee, Dong Wook Lee, Jin Young Oh, Jonghoon Won & Dae-Shik Seo

  2. College of Information Science and Technology, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, 201620, China

    Yang Liu

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  1. Dong Hyun Kim
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Correspondence to Yang Liu or Dae-Shik Seo.

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Kim, D.H., Lee, J.H., Lee, D.W. et al. Controlled nano structures on solution-processed inorganic/organic film for liquid crystal application. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 104, 412–424 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05940-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05940-8

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