METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICALLY ANISOTROPIC ELEMENT, AND OPTICALLY ANISOTROPIC ELEMENT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optically anisotropic element that optionally develops phase difference and its angle dependence in a high molecular material by applying a molecular orientation to a film formed of a mixture of a photosensitive polymer and a low molecular weight compound by the irradiation of UV rays, and to provide a method for manufacturing the element. SOLUTION: The mixture of the photosensitive polymer and the low molecular weight compound is applied and formed into a film on a substrate. When the film is irradiated with linearly polarized light having different oscillation planes of electric fields in at least two directions by using a device composed of a UV lamp, a power supply or an optical element (e.g. Glan-Taylor prism) which converts natural light into polarized light, the phase difference is induced in the film and the obtained optically anisotropic element even in a single sheet is effective to increase the viewing angle in a liquid crystal display device.