Fullerene-doped polyimide materials treated via the vacuum ultraviolet irradiation: Novel possible approach to create the structured relief

Abstract

Among the various surface reliefs obtained by the modification of the nanostructured materials used for the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules or applied as the possible way to extend the optical limiting mechanisms, the vacuum ultraviolet irradiation can provoke the novel approach with the varied contact angle and can be recommended for use in the development of the light- and electro-addressable liquid crystal spatial light modulators, switchers, and limiters. The main accent in the current paper is connected with the study of an impact of the vacuum ultraviolet irradiation with the different wavelength and power densities on the fullerene-structured polyimide thin films. To support the proposed idea, the spectral measurements were carried out, the contact wetting angles of the structured surface were determined, and an atomic force microscopic analysis was performed. Based on the data obtained, it is proposed to effectively use such relief formed by the vacuum ultraviolet irradiation for the design of the modulators and converters of the laser radiation, some biomedicine devices and the solar cells as well where a liquid crystal mesophase is actively used as an electro-optical modulating layer. Some ideology of the current article is aimed that the polyimide materials, when irradiated in the vacuum ultraviolet, can perform a dual role, as a photo layer and as an orienting layer as well.