Formation of polymer-wall-stabilized bend-mode liquid crystal cells

We propose a novel pi-cell with polymer walls that can be stabilized in a bent configuration, using the polymerization-induced phase separation of liquid crystals from a cross-linked polymer formed through free-radical photo-polymerization. The polymer walls were formed using an ultraviolet (UV)-curable multifunctional monomer, which was exposed to non-uniform UV-illumination through a photomask while maintaining a constant concentration of liquid crystal in the micro-celled structures. When a mixed solution of the liquid crystal and a UV-curable monomer held between two substrates was subjected to an electric field and partially irradiated with UV light, the monomer polymerized to form walls that were vertical with respect to the substrate. Consequently, the bend-alignment of the liquid crystal was stabilized by both the interfaces with the polymer walls and the alignment layers on substrates.