Pulsed laser deposition of liquid crystals

Thin films of 4-cyano-4’-pentylbiphenyl ~5CB! liquid crystal have been fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. The suitability of different lasers ~ArF, KrF and CO2) has been investigated over a range of fluence using visible-UV and infrared absorption and optical microscopy to characterise the films. High performance liquid chromatography ~HPLC! and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy ~MALDI-MS! were used to assess the extent of decomposition of the films. The results suggest that the CO2 laser acts as a quasi-steady heat source, while for ArF laser irradiation severe photodecomposition is observed. However, use of the KrF laser allows the production of excellent quality submicron films, showing properties similar to the 5CB target with only slight photodecomposition. © 1997 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewe