Formation of uniaxial molecular films by liquid-crystal imprinting in a magnetic field

Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to study molecular order in monolaye r organic films formed by solution-phase growth from thermotropic liquid cr ystal solvents. The films develop macroscopically uniaxial alignment, with adlayer orientation controlled by an external magnetic field through intera ctions mediated by the liquid crystal. Results are presented for two films deposited from nematic and smectic-A solvents, along with a discussion of t he alignment mechanism.