Facile Fabrication, Photoinduced Orientation, and Birefringent Pattern Control of Photoalignable Films Comprised of -Benzylideneaniline Side Groups.

Facile fabrication of a photoalignable film from a nonphotoreactive polymethacrylate with 4-oxybenzaldehyde side groups () and a monomeric 4-methoxyaniline () composite is investigated. A / composite film fabrication and the annealing process form photoalignable -benzylideneaniline (NBA) side groups, while the linearly polarized (LP) 365 nm light exposure to the resultant film induces sufficient molecular reorientation of NBA side groups. Furthermore, patterned coating of on a film and subsequent LP light exposure generate a patterned molecular orientation combined with controlled birefringence.