Observation of blue phases in chiral networks

Abstract

<p>We report the first observation of cholesteric blue phases in chiral anisotropic polymer networks. In two-component mixtures of a chiral and a non-chiral diacrylate, we observed typical textures of BPI, BPII and BPIII phases. By photopolymerization of these materials at constant temperature we obtained blue phase networks. After polymerization, the blue phases were stored, which enabled us to further study them without any temperature control.</p>