Influence of molecular biaxiality on the nanostructures of blue phases

Abstract

We prepared a chiral mixture consisting of a T-shaped nematic liquid crystal, a chiral compound, reactive monomers and a photo-initiator. The mixtures exhibited BPIII and cubic BP on cooling. We obtained polymer-stabilized BPIII and cubic BP using photo-polymerization. After removing the low-molecular materials, we observed the remaining polymer networks using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A bicontinuous gyroid-like structure was observed for the polymer scaffold from the BPIII. We discuss structure–property relationship of blue phase materials including T-shaped, U-shaped or rod-like molecule to clear the effect of molecular biaxiality on stabilizing blue phases.