Polymer-Stabilized Cuboidal Liquid Crystals with Reconfigurable Symmetry

A fundamental understanding of how curvature and interface properties interact to shape and stabilize crystal structures is crucial for customizing their optical and mechanical properties for specific applications. In this study, we utilize both experimental and computational methods to explore the effects of polymer stabilization on blue phase (BP) liquid crystals encapsulated within microdroplets. These soft crystals form three-dimensional lattices, exhibiting body-centered (BPI) and simple cubic (BPII) symmetries. Upon polymerization, the polymers phase-separate, creating a thin shell around the BP microdroplets. This polymer shell, a few hundred nanometers thick, facilitates BP formation at room temperature, with droplet size determining the stabilized structure. Additionally, the polymer shell imparts dynamic properties to the BPs, allowing crystal-crystal transitions and enabling faster optical responses to temperature and electric fields. These findings have the potential to revolutionize the design of fast-response nanoscale crystals for flexible sensors and photonic devices.