Surface properties and liquid crystal alignment behavior of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) derivatives with alkyl ester side chains

► PHEMA derivatives with alkyl ester side chains (PHEMA#C, 9 ⩽ # ⩽ 17), where # is carbon number in alkyl groups, were synthesized. ► PHEMA#Cs with ⩾15 showed ordered bilayer structures with very low surface energies inducing homeotropic LC alignment. ► PHEMA#Cs with ⩽13 have disordered structures and stick-slip behavior was observed on their surfaces.