Phase stabilisation of blue-phase liquid crystals using a polymerisable chiral additive

ABSTRACT

We report a novel polymer stabilisation of blue phase by a chiral agent itself without additional reactive monomers. In this way, the structural difference in phase stabilisation gives rise to novel electro-optic properties such as the hysteresis-free with low-operating voltages. The number of constituents in polymer-stabilised blue-phase mixture is reduced and the polymer network more directly engages the structure of the blue phase, so that the hysteresis is free with less contamination for liquid crystals to be rearranged by electric fields. Also, relatively low operating voltage is achieved because the chiral pitch becomes longer owing to the chiral agent becoming polymerised. This result would open up an innovative way from a material perspective on stabilisation of blue-phase liquid crystals.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystal
• blue phase
• reactive chiral monomer
• polymer stabilisation.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Basic Science Laboratory Research Program (2014R1A4A1008140) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Basic Science Laboratory Research Program [Grant Number 2014R1A4A1008140] through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.