Study of Liquid Crystal Alignment Using Slit Coater under Different Application Velocities

We investigate the optimal fabrication conditions for the slit coater method, a novel manufacturing process for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The optimal coating velocity to obtain a homogeneous LC alignment was found to be 1.0 mm/s for an LC mixture with a viscosity of around 100 mPa ^.s. It was also found that a periodic LC alignment pattern is formed when a high coating velocity is used, which reflects the fluid dynamic turbulence. This periodic pattern can be acquired by a UV-polymerized reactive mesogen (RM) layer that has the function of an LC alignment film.