This coa�ng ensured that LC molecules are pris�nely homeotropically aligned. As a result, when observed under a polarized op�cal microscope (POM), a dark, non-birefringent background is observed, regardless of the orienta�on of the sample. However, if the aligning vector is affected by the PDMS and no longer perpendicular to the substrate, this disturbance should be clearly iden�fied by the resul�ng patern under the POM. The rela�onship between PDMS geometry and the induced alignment effect was carefully inves�gated by designing two types of PDMS microscaffolds, as discussed below.