Auxiliary Alignment Agent for Liquid Crystal Display Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid crystal display panels face issues with alignment force differences due to pixel electrode variations, leading to defects like bright and dark lines, which are exacerbated by the limitations of polyimide (PI) materials, including poor heat resistance, high polarity, and high water absorption, resulting in uneven alignment and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal material comprising liquid crystal molecules, a polymerizable monomer, and an auxiliary alignment agent with a specific structural formula that includes an anchor group, substituted alkylene groups, and polymerizable groups to enhance interaction with SiNx/PFA, ensuring uniform alignment and eliminating the need for PI materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If polyimide (PI) alignment material is used, then liquid crystal molecules can be aligned in a certain direction, but friction alignment causes dust particles, static electricity residue, and brush marks, reducing process yield
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical friction alignment with photo-alignment technology. The photo-alignment layer is exposed to ultraviolet light to generate alignment forces that orient liquid crystal molecules without mechanical contact, thereby eliminating dust particles, static electricity residue, and brush marks while maintaining alignment quality
Solution Approach 2:
The photo-alignment layer utilizes the substrate's own surface properties and the incident ultraviolet light to generate alignment forces. The alignment is achieved through self-organization of liquid crystal molecules under the influence of light-induced surface forces, eliminating the need for external mechanical alignment tools
2Object-generated harmful factors
If photo-alignment material is used, then friction alignment problems are avoided, but heat resistance and aging resistance are poor, and anchoring ability is weak, affecting panel quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of a photo-alignment layer and a reinforcement layer. The photo-alignment layer provides alignment functionality without mechanical contact, while the reinforcement layer enhances heat resistance, aging resistance, and anchoring ability. This composite approach combines the advantages of both materials to achieve comprehensive performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition and molecular structure of the alignment layer to improve thermal and aging resistance. By changing the material parameters such as molecular weight, crosslinking density, and chemical composition, the alignment layer achieves enhanced reliability while maintaining its photo-alignment functionality
3Manufacturing precision
If PI material is used, then alignment can be achieved, but PI material has high polarity and high water absorption, causing spoilage during storage and transportation, resulting in uneven alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces PI material with a photo-alignment layer that does not rely on mechanical friction. This substitution eliminates the high polarity and water absorption characteristics of PI material, preventing spoilage during storage and transportation while maintaining alignment uniformity through light-induced surface forces
4Manufacturing precision
If PI material is used, then alignment can be achieved, but the process of film formation is complicated, resulting in increased panel costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical film formation process of PI material with a photo-alignment process. The photo-alignment layer is applied and then exposed to ultraviolet light to generate alignment forces, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing panel costs while maintaining alignment quality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves uniform alignment of liquid crystal molecules, reduces defects such as bright and dark lines, and improves process efficiency by enhancing the interaction between the additive material and the substrate, thereby addressing the limitations of conventional pixel electrode differences.
Implementation Method 1
These small-molecule additive materials mainly rely on their own polar groups to adsorb on a surface of a substrate, so that the liquid crystal molecules can be vertically oriented
Implementation Method 2
A liquid crystal material containing the additive material is called a self-aligned liquid crystal material
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal material and a liquid crystal display panel includes a liquid crystal material including liquid crystal molecules, a polymerizable monomer, and an auxiliary alignment agent. A structural formula of the auxiliary alignment agent is:The A group includes at least one oxygen atom, at least one nitrogen atom, or at least one oxygen atom and at least one nitrogen atom, the Sp group essentially is a —(CH2)n— group, the Z group is selected from:and any combination thereof, the R group is a straight or branched first alkyl group containing 5 to 20 carbon atoms, and the L group is selected from:and any combination thereof.