Thermodynamic, structural and morphological studies on liquid-crystalline blue phases

Abstract

This article describes the progress in experimental studies of liquid-crystalline blue phases during the past 5 years. Additionally, these results are compared critically with the predictions of theories of the blue phases. Areas considered in this review include (i) the thermodynamic stability of the three polymorphic blue phases and the influence of the cholesteric pitch on this; (ii) the phase diagrams of blue phases; (iii) electric field effects on the blue phase structure and stability; (iv) the morphology and growth of liquid single crystals of blue phases; (v) the symmetry and structural properties of the blue phases.