No-bias-bend pi cell using the rubbed polyimide mixture

Most liquid crystal display modes, including the twisted nematic (TN) $mode^1$, the in-plane switching (IPS) $mode^2$, the fringe field switching (FFS) $mode^3$, and the vertically aligned (VA) $mode^4$ are based on either a horizontal or a vertical alignment. However, for some applications, such as no-bias-bend (NBB) pi cell or bistable bend-splay display, an intermediate pretilt angle is essential$^5$. NBB pi cells have been a focus of interest because of their fast response time; however, the reliable control of the intermediate pretilt angle of liquid crystals that is required for the fabrication of NBB pi cells is challenging. The controllable pre-tilt angle of liquid crystals was investigated using a blend of horizontal and vertical polyimide prepared by a rubbing method. Various pretilt angles in the range from 0^{\circ}$ to 90^{\circ}$ were achieved as a function of the vertical polyimide content. We observed uniform liquid crystal alignment on the rubbing-treated blended polyimide layer. A NBB pi cell with an intermediate pretilt angle of 47.8^{\circ}$ was manufactured. This cell had no initial bias voltage and a low threshold voltage, which indicates that it has low power consumption. In addition, the response time of the NBB pi cell was rapid.