Self-Assembled Monolayers for Liquid Crystal Alignment

该奖项授予科罗拉多大学博尔德分校的David Walba博士和Joseph Maclennan博士，由化学部的先进材料和加工计划以及材料研究部的固态化学计划共同支持。该奖项的重点将是研究和开发用于铁电液晶排列的自组装单分子膜中光学双稳和光可切换分子方案的基本机制。在本奖项下，将研究合成平行于衬底的偶氮染料单元的自组装单分子膜，这些偶氮染料单元可以使用线偏振紫外线辐射进行对准。光激活的液晶均匀排列-照片抛光-取代传统的机械抛光或摩擦也将在本奖项下进行。学生在材料科学方面的教学和培训是该奖项的一部分。根据该奖项，将从可光异构化的偶氮基团设计和开发自组装单分子膜，并将其附着在铁电液晶的书架结构上。根据该奖项计划的液晶光激活对准将消除有源矩阵液晶器件制造过程中的传统机械摩擦。此外，如果在技术上开发这一工艺，将降低制造成本，增强图像的对比度和深度，并改善显示设备的产量和质量控制。此外，该研究项目将为博士后和研究生提供丰富的多学科材料化学教育和培训机会

This award to Drs. David Walba and Joseph Maclennan of the University of Colorado at Boulder is jointly supported by the Advanced Materials and Processing Program in the Chemistry Division and the Solid State Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research. The focus of the award will be to study and develop the basic mechanisms of optically bistable and photo-switchable molecular schemes in self-assembled monolayers for ferroelectric liquid crystal alignments. Synthesis of self-assembled monolayers of azo-dye units oriented parallel to the substrates that can be aligned using linearly polarized UV radiation will be studied under this award. Photo-activated homogeneous alignment of liquid crystal - photo buffing - in place of traditional mechanical buffing or rubbing will also be carried out under this award. Teaching and training of students in materials science are parts of the award. Under this award, self-assembled monolayers will be designed and developed from photoisomerizable azo groups and attached to bookshelf structures of ferroelectric liquid crystals. Photo-activated alignments of liquid crystals planned under this award will eliminate the traditional mechanical rubbing in the manufacturing process of active matric liquid crystal devices. In addition, this process if technologically exploited will result in reduced manufacturing costs, enhanced contrast and depth of images, and improved yield and quality control of the display devices. In addition, the research program will provide a rich multidisciplinary education and training opportunity in materials chemistry to postdoctoral and graduate students