Homeotropic Alignment of a Discotic Liquid Crystal Induced by a Sacrificial Layer

A convenient method to induce face-on orientation of an alkoxy phtalocyanine discotic mesogen is described. The alignment is imposed by the confinement of the discotic thin films with a top sacrificial polymer layer that is easily removed by washing with a selective solvent, after thermal annealing. Thin films have been characterized by optical and atomic force microscopy, UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering. The data converge in showing the central role of the sacrificial layer in promoting alignment with the planar molecules orienting parallel to the substrate in an essentially homeotropic arrangement over large lateral length scales and the persistence of this desirable alignment after removal of the layer.