Capacitive techniques to monitor anchoring energy in liquid crystal-based sensors

Author

Namkung, Jun ; Zou, Yang ; Hassanzadeh, Alireza ; Abu-Abed, Alaeddin S. ; Lindquist, Robert

Author_Institution

ECE Dept., Univ. of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL

fYear

2009

fDate

17-19 Feb. 2009

Firstpage

114

Lastpage

117

Abstract

Using the orientation order of the liquid crystal molecules in chemical and biological sensors has been widely investigated. In this paper, a technique using capacitive transduction to monitor the anchoring energy of liquid crystal alignment layers is presented. Sensing changes in the anchoring energy of a liquid crystal film can significantly improve sensitivity of liquid crystal based sensors. The method and theory is presented. Preliminary experimental results are provided using UV irradiation to alter the anchoring energy of known alignment structures.

Keywords

biosensors; chemical sensors; liquid crystal devices; molecular orientation; nematic liquid crystals; optical films; optical materials; optical sensors; surface treatment; ultraviolet radiation effects; UV irradiation; anchoring energy monitor; biological sensor; capacitive transduction technique; chemical sensor; liquid crystal alignment layer; liquid crystal film; liquid crystal-based sensor; nematic liquid crystal molecule orientation; Biosensors; Capacitance; Capacitive sensors; Chemical and biological sensors; Electrodes; Liquid crystals; Monitoring; Permittivity; Surface treatment; Voltage; ]liquid crystal; anchoring energy; orientation alignment; sensors; ultraviolet;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Sensors Applications Symposium, 2009. SAS 2009. IEEE

Conference_Location

New Orleans, LA

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-2786-4

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-2787-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/SAS.2009.4801789

Filename

4801789