Dynamically Controlled Iridescence of Cholesteric Cellulose Nanocrystal Suspensions Using Electric Fields

Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystal suspensions in apolar solvent spontaneously form iridescent liquid-crystalline phases but the control of their macroscopic order is usually poor. The use of electric fields can provide control on the cholesteric orientation and its periodicity, allowing macroscopic sample homogeneity and dynamical tuning of their iridescent hues, and is demonstrated here.