Substrate elements for making liquid crystal display devices are disclosed as well as display devices using such elements. A substrate element includes a base sheet having the desired optical properties and providing the structural stability for the substrate element. The substrate element further includes a microstructured barrier layer that protects the base sheet from adverse chemical reactions with the liquid crystal or alignment layer solvents. The microstructured barrier layer comprises a plurality of microstructured spacing members that provide precise, uniform spacing between the first substrate element and a second substrate element. A pair of substrate elements, at least one of which having a microstructured barrier layer, can thereby be mated to form a display device. The substrate elements of the present invention allow large area, high resolution displays to be fabricated which will provide uniform display properties throughout the display area.