Alignment behavior of nematic liquid crystal on locally micro-patterned regions using a stylus tip

We investigate the local alignment of liquid crystal director induced by micro-scribing of a planar alignment layer using a sharp stylus. The director aligns parallel to the scanning trajectory. Both azimuthal and polar anchoring coefficients were estimated to be on the order of 10−5 J/m2. When scanning was applied parallel to the rubbing on a pre-rubbed surface, transition from planar alignment to a macroscopically homeotropic-like, low-retardation state was observed. We attribute this anomalous transition to the surface curvature generated along the scan. Utilizing this, we successfully demonstrated the fabrication of selective homeotropic micro-patterns and alphanumeric characters on a planar background.