COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LIQUID CRYSTAL VARIABLE RETARDER WITH RUBBED POLYIMIDE AND SIO2 THIN FILMS BY GLANCING ANGLE DEPOSITION

This paper elucidates a comparative study on the optical, morphological and laser induced damage characteristics of the rubbed polyimide, SiO2 thin films by glancing angle deposition, and corresponding liquid crystal retarders. The SiO2 inorganic thin films were prepared with the deposition angles of 45°, the traditional polyimide films were prepared by spin coating and rubbing process. The experimental results indicate that SiO2 thin films have good resistance to laser damage. The laser induced damage threshold of the SiO2 thin films reached 32.6J/cm2 and the corresponding liquid crystal retarder reaches 1.84J/cm2. These results are better than those of PI alignment films. The SiO2 thin films had the great potential for the liquid crystal optical devices in laser applications.