Helical polymerization using a polymer scaffold derived from a blue phase

Abstract

We prepared a blue phase (BP) liquid crystal mixture consisting of a T-shaped nematic liquid crystal (T-1), a chiral dopant, a reacting monomer mixture, and a photo-initiator. It exhibited a phase sequence of Iso-BPIII-cubic BP-N* on cooling. We produced the polymer stabilized cubic BP (PS-cubic BP) and BPIII (PS-BPIII). After washing low molecular weight materials from each PS-BP, we obtained the corresponding polymer scaffolds. The polymer scaffolds proceed the helical polymerization of achiral reactive monomers to produce a chiral polymer film. We discuss how the chirality is transferred from each BP to the corresponding polymer film.