A rodlike polymer with various side chain lengths and its ability to align liquid-crystals

Abstract

A rodlike polymer with various side chain lengths was prepared in a good quality of films. The polymer films were rubbed, and used in constructing liquid-crystal (LQ cells which were filled with a nematic LC containing a dichroic dye. For the LC cells, the ability of polymers to align LCs was evaluated, and compared to that of semi-rigid polymer containing the same type of side chains as the rodlike polymer had.