Characteristics of Electrically Switchable Wettability Surfaces of Liquid Crystal and Polymer Composite Films

Abstract

Experimentally, the electrically controllable surface wettability of liquid crystal and polymer composite film has been demonstrated. In the work, scanning probe microscopy has been used to investigate the surface characterization of liquid crystal molecular units at a polymer surface under external voltages applied. The surface morphologies as well as the sensitivity of measurement to surface adhesive force on the nanoscale are determined quantitatively for such unique nano-sized liquid crystals/polymer composite films. The surface wettability of the films deduced from the local adhesion properties demonstrated the electrical control of surface wettability properties, suggesting that the interfacial liquid-crystal molecular alignment of the films with external voltage applied should have significant influence on the modification of the surface characterization of liquid crystals. (C) 2010 The Japan Society of Applied Physics