Photo-induced in-plane alignments of liquid crystal molecules on layer-by-layer films and attenuated total reflection properties

In this report, photo-induced in-plane alignments of nematic liquid crystal (LC) molecules, 5CB, have been investigated in LC cells prepared with alternate Direct Red 80 (DR80 : azo dye) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) self-assembled films on gold electrodes using the attenuated total reflection (ATR) measurement method. From the ATR curves, in-plane switching properties and alignment of the LC molecules in the LC cells were evaluated during and after irradiation with linearly polarized light.