A self-assembled monolayer film of tolane was fabricated in aqueous solution by using silane coupling agent. Using this self-assembled monolayer film as homeotropic alignment layer of nematic liquid crystals (LCs)
the liquid crystals could be aligned vertically on the quartz substrate. The procedure of self-assembly is simple and the film has perfect thermal stability. As a promising homeotropic alignment layer of LCs
this type of self-assembled monolayer film has much potential to be used in vertical-alignment display (VA-LCD).
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