Noncontact liquid-crystal alignment by supra-molecular amplification of nanogrooves

Groovy surfaces: The small increase in π-electronic character that results from the change from a phenyl- to a naphthalene-functionalized optical switch can have significant consequences. The latter creates a well-defined, grooved surface (see picture), which has been prepared by utilizing a method of noncontact alignment-layer construction. Such a process for liquid-crystal alignment, which is based on a hierarchical process, does not necessitate the use of a clean room