Three-dimensional orientational order in the bulk and on the surface of polymer films and its effect on liquid-crystal alignment

The orientational order in the bulk and on the surface of polymer films, as well as liquid crystal (LC) alignment were investigated. The null ellipsometry (NE) and the x-ray reflectivity (XRR) techniques were used to study the spatial orientation of and molecular orientation at the polymer film's surface. The differential scanning calorimetry and polarization microscopy methods were used to study the phase transitions in the polymers. It was observed that the correlation between orientations of polymer and LC layers strongly depended on the physical structure of the interface, which was determined by the chemical structure of polymer and liquid crystal molecules.