Electro-optical properties of solution-processed aluminum-nickel oxide film containing graphene oxide in liquid crystal system

Aluminum-nickel oxide and graphene oxide hybrid films are investigated in this study. The films produced via solution processing were doped with GO at three concentrations: 0, 5, and 15 wt%. The optical transmittances of the produced hybrid AlNiO films were examined for liquid crystal device applications, and their chemical properties were assessed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy and line profiling were used to examine the film surfaces. Polarized optical microscopy and pretilt angle analysis were used to confirm the uniform and homogeneous LC alignment on the hybrid AlNiO layer. The anisotropic oriented nano/microgroove structures on the surfaces of the films are believed to be due to the shear stress generated by the brush-coating process. LC cells assembled using the hybrid films showed stabler and faster switching performances with increasing GO doping. GO doping of the pure AlNiO film was also noted to increase the LC polar anchoring energy.