Blue phase liquid crystal microcapsules: confined 3D structure inducing fascinating properties

Abstract

Blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) self-assembling into soft cubic crystalline structures possess significant applications in the field of dynamic photoelectron spectroscopy. However, three scientific challenges limit their broader application, namely, the difficulty to form a free-standing structure due to fluidity, dependence on nanoparticles or polymer matrix to widen the BP temperature range, and high working voltages to reorientate the LCMs. Herein, we proposed a new concept of free-standing BPLC microcapsules (BPLCMs) prepared by microfluidic emulsification and interfacial polymerization. The temperature range of BPLCs could be widened by surface anchoring and physical confinement. The BPLCMs built a color library in the visible region in the thermal response process. Most importantly, the stable BPLCMs exhibited a reversible surface-switch mode driven by an electric field lower than 0.55 V μm⁻¹, which was the lowest record for BPLCs. The BPLCMs demonstrate intriguing prospects in the fields of smart display and reversible sensors.