Formation mechanism and polymerization of bubble domain in a cholesteric liquid crystal

Abstract

We report the spontaneous formation of bubble domains in a cholesteric phase composed of 7OCB and a newly synthesized chiral dopant 8BP(Cl)MB. The directors in bubble domains are frustrated and form torons when the cholesteric pitch is comparable to the cell thickness. We also demonstrate that such structures can be polymer-stabilized and are responsive to electric field. They might be used in electric-field-driven diffraction gratings.