Anisotropic liquid surface forming agent and anisotropic liquid surface forming method

Abstract

An agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound is capable of making a liquid surface express anisotropy in a simplified manner.

1 . An anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent, comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound. 
     
     
         2 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the substituted aromatic azo compound is a substituted azobenzene. 
     
     
         3 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the substituted aromatic azo compound has a polymerizable group. 
     
     
         4 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 3 , wherein the substituted aromatic azo compound is an aromatic azo compound substituted by a substituent having a fluorine atom. 
     
     
         5 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 3 , wherein the aromatic azo compound has one azo group in the molecule. 
     
     
         6 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 3 , wherein the aromatic azo compound has two or three arylene groups in the molecule. 
     
     
         7 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 3 , wherein the aromatic azo compound is a compound of the following formula (1): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  represents a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, N(CH 3 ) 2 or a group of the following formula (2):
   Q 2 -S 3 -L 3 -(-M 2 -S 4 -L 4 -)- n ;   (2) 
 
         L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4  each independently represent a single bond, —O—, —O—CO—, —O—CO—O—, —CO—O—, —S—, —NCH 3 —, —NH, —N(CH 3 )—CO—, —NH—CO—, —CO—N(CH 3 )—, or —CO—NH—; 
         S 1 , S 2 , S 3  and S 4  each independently represent a single bond, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group; 
         Q 1  and Q 2  each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a polymerizable group; 
         M 1  and M 2  each independently represent a linking group having any of the following structures: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R 2 , R 3  and R 4  each independently represent a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, —CH 3 , —OCH 3 , or —CN; 
         p2, p3 and p4 each independently indicate an integer of from 0 to 4; and 
         m and n each independently indicate an integer of from 0 to 3. 
       
     
     
         8 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic azo compound is a polymer comprising a side chain having one azo group. 
     
     
         9 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic azo compound is a polymer comprising a side chain having two or three arylene groups. 
     
     
         10 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic azo compound has a number-average molecular weight of from 2000 to 100000. 
     
     
         11 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 10 , wherein the aromatic azo compound has a structural unit of the following formula (3): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 5  represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; 
         L 5  represents —O—, —NR 7 — or —S—; R 7  represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; 
         X represents a single bond, a linking group selected from the following group Z, or a linking group consisting of two or more linking groups selected from the following group Z; when the linking group has a hydrogen atom, the hydrogen atom may be substituted by a substituent; 
         Z is a group consisting of —O—, —S—, —CO—, —SO 2 —, —NH—, —CH 2 —, —CF 2 —, —CH═CH— and —C≡C—, 
         L 6  represents a single bond, —O—, —NR 8 —, —S—, —OCO 2 —, —CO 2 —, or —OCO—; 
         R 8  represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; 
         R 6  represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group, —CN, —NO 2 , an unsubstituted or substituted alkoxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, —CF 3 , —CO 2 R 9 , —C≡C—R 10  or 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R 9  represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; 
         R 10  represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group; and 
         R 11  represents a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         12 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 1 , which is a solution of the substituted aromatic azo compound in a solvent. 
     
     
         13 . The anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent according to  claim 12 , wherein the solvent comprises an organic solvent having a boiling point of not higher than 200° C. 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming an anisotropic liquid surface, comprising:
 mixing a liquid with an anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound to form a mixture, and   exposing the surface of the mixture to an anisotropic light to form an anisotropic liquid surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method for forming an anisotropic liquid surface according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixture comprises insoluble components in an amount of less than 50% by mass. 
     
     
         16 . The method for forming an anisotropic liquid surface according to  claim 14 , wherein the surface of the mixture contains no solid at the beginning of the irradiation. 
     
     
         17 . The method for forming an anisotropic liquid surface according to  claim 14 , wherein the anisotropic light has a wavelength of from 350 to 400 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The method for forming an anisotropic liquid surface according to  claim 14 , wherein the surface of the mixture is exposed to the anisotropic light at a specific angle. 
     
     
         19 . A method for forming an anisotropic surface, comprising:
 mixing a liquid with an anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound to form a mixture,   exposing the surface of the mixture to an anisotropic light to form an anisotropic liquid surface, and   drying the anisotropic liquid surface.   
     
     
         20 . A method for forming an anisotropic surface, comprising:
 mixing a liquid with an anisotropic liquid surface-forming agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound to form a mixture,   exposing the surface of the mixture to an anisotropic light to form an anisotropic liquid surface, and   polymerizing the anisotropic liquid surface.