Self-aligning Liquid Crystal Material via Nano-surfactant

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polyimide materials used in liquid crystal display panels are expensive, pose health risks due to solvents, and require complex and costly film-forming processes, leading to environmental and economic inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A self-aligning material comprising a nano-surfactant with a conductive material-philic end and a liquid crystal material-philic end, such as silicon oxide and organic silicone, which aligns liquid crystal molecules without the need for a polyimide alignment layer, reducing production costs and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polyimide alignment layer is used to align liquid crystal molecules, then liquid crystal alignment is achieved, but production cost increases and environmental harm occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid crystal alignmentVSAvoidenvironmental harm and health risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the polyimide alignment layer from the liquid crystal display structure, using only liquid crystal materials with added surfactants to achieve self-alignment. This removes the source of harmful solvents and reduces production costs while maintaining alignment functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid crystal material performs self-alignment through the action of surfactants added to the liquid crystal composition. The surfactants spontaneously organize at the interface between the conductive substrate and liquid crystal, creating alignment without requiring external polyimide alignment layers or complex coating processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If polyimide alignment layer is used to align liquid crystal molecules, then liquid crystal alignment is achieved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid crystal alignmentVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive polyimide alignment layers with inexpensive surfactant additives that are mixed into the liquid crystal material. These surfactants perform the alignment function temporarily during the alignment process, after which the liquid crystal molecules maintain their aligned state through the reorientation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If polyimide alignment layer is used to align liquid crystal molecules, then liquid crystal alignment is achieved, but manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid crystal alignmentVSAvoidfilm-forming process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the alignment function with the liquid crystal material itself by incorporating surfactants into the liquid crystal composition. This eliminates the need for separate polyimide alignment layer deposition, curing, and processing steps, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining alignment reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid crystal material serves multiple functions: it provides the display functionality and simultaneously performs self-alignment through the incorporated surfactants. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate alignment layers and reduces manufacturing process complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 self-aligning material effectively aligns liquid crystal molecules, eliminating the need for a polyimide alignment layer, thereby saving costs and reducing environmental harm while ensuring reliable and stable liquid crystal panel operation.

Implementation Method 1

the self-aligning material is a nano-surfactant having a conductive material-philic end and a liquid crystal material-philic end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurfactant alignment: Surfactant

Implementation Method 2

a nano-surfactant having a conductive material-philic end and a liquid crystal material-philic end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAmphiphilic interaction: Amphiphiles

Data Source

PatentUS11434427B2Self-aligning material, self-aligning liquid crystal material, and liquid crystal display panel

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 TCL CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

A self-aligning material, a self-aligning liquid crystal material, and a liquid crystal panel are provided. The self-aligning material is a nano-surfactant having a conductive material-philic end and a liquid crystal material-philic end, which can align liquid crystal molecules. Thus, it is unnecessary to dispose a polyimide alignment layer in the liquid crystal panel. As a result, the polyimide alignment layer and its manufacturing are saved, and production cost is reduced.