Optical Rotatory Dispersion Measurements of the Liquid Crystalline Blue Phases in Thick Layers

Abstract

The results of optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) measurements in liquid crystalline blue phases (BP) are reported for pure compounds and mixtures. They have been performed on polycrystalline samples (thick layers). Two features distinguish their spectra from those obtained from liquid single crystals:

(1) The magnitude of the rotation is much smaller, and

(2) no sharp anomalous ORD region is present.

The spectra possess a weak, broad anomalous region. Their sign and wavelength dependence follows the sense and pitch of the cholesteric helix. ORD experiments with mixtures of the same cholesteric esters with a nematic substance yield results typical of well oriented samples. The spectra exhibit larger rotation angles and a significantly smaller anomalous region.

Key Words:

• blue phase
• cholesteryl esters
• optical rotatory dispersion
• random oriented system