Combined Nanostructured Layers for Display Applications

Abstract

One-step cost effective process of fabrication of a full inorganic nanostructured transparent conductive electrode and LC alignment layer has been developed. More specifically, the subject comprises a self-organized nanomesh of a valve metal, concomitant porous oxide layer with various functionality and electrochemical method of their fabrication. The nanomesh film is electrically conductive, optically transparent and flexible. It can be fabricated on a variety of substrates, including flexible and rigid substrates. High effective LC alignment layers based of nanostructured alumina can be fabricated at the same anodization process by special electro-chemical technique in sulfuric and oxalic acids to form a self ordered nanoporous structure of alumina which has a "vertical" surface area that prevails over the "horizontal" one even though Al film’s thickness is small. The possibility to control distances between pores and their sizes during the process of anodizing/etching enables to optimize alignment surface according to the required LC material.