Alignment layer and liquid crystal display having the same

1. An alignment layer comprising a first polyimide compound that is formed from

a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and

a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound is represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

2. The alignment layer of claim 1 , wherein the first polyimide compound has a chemical formula as follows:

3. An alignment layer comprising a first polyimide compound that is formed from

a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and

a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound is represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

4. The alignment layer of claim 3 , wherein the first polyimide compound has a chemical formula as follows:

5. An alignment layer comprising a first polyimide compound that is formed from

a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and

a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound is represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

6. The alignment layer of claim 5 , wherein the first polyimide compound has a chemical formula as follows:

7. An alignment layer comprising a first polyimide compound that is formed from

a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and

a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound includes a compound represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

8. The alignment layer of claim 7 , wherein the first polyimide compound includes a compound represented by

9. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

first and second substrates facing each other;

liquid crystal aligned between the first and second substrates; and

an alignment layer formed on at least one surface of the first and second substrates to be adjacent to the liquid crystal, wherein the alignment layer comprises a first polyimide compound that is formed from a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound is represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

10. The liquid crystal display of claim 9 , wherein the first polyimide compound has a chemical formula as follows:

11. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

first and second substrates facing each other;

liquid crystal aligned between the first and second substrates; and

an alignment layer formed on at least one surface of the first and second substrates to be adjacent to the liquid crystal, wherein the alignment layer comprises a first polyimide compound that is formed from a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound is represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

12. The liquid crystal display of claim 11 , wherein the first polyimide compound has a chemical formula as follows:

13. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

first and second substrates facing each other;

liquid crystal aligned between the first and second substrates; and

an alignment layer formed on at least one surface of the first and second substrates to be adjacent to the liquid crystal, wherein the alignment layer comprises a first polyimide compound that is formed from a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound is represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

14. The liquid crystal display of claim 13 , wherein the first polyimide compound has a chemical formula as follows:

15. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

first and second substrates facing each other;

liquid crystal aligned between the first and second substrates; and

an alignment layer formed on at least one surface of the first and second substrates to be adjacent to the liquid crystal, wherein the alignment layer comprises a first polyimide compound that is formed from a second polyimide compound having an azobenzenoid group and an imide group bound to a central hydrocarbon wherein the central hydrocarbon is capped with the imide group, and a discotic liquid crystal compound, wherein the second polyimide compound is represented by

and the discotic liquid crystal compound is represented by

16. The liquid crystal display of claim 15 , wherein the first polyimide compound includes a compound represented by

17. The liquid crystal display of claim 9 , wherein the alignment layer is supplied by a linearly polarized light which is inclined relative to the alignment layer to exhibit the optical alignment characteristics.

18. The liquid crystal display of claim 17 , wherein the liquid crystal includes nematic liquid crystal.