The performance of a polymer-stabilized blue phase system based on a nematic host with large dielectric anisotropy and a chiral dopant with high helical twisting power is investigated and the influence of the reactive monomer composition on the electro-optic characteristics is studied. Field-induced birefringence with a Kerr coefficient greater than 1 nm V−2 can be achieved in a large temperature range from well below 20 °C to above 55 °C. The disturbing influences of electro-optic hysteresis and memory effects can be reduced by diligent choice of the composition and appropriate electric addressing.

Blue phases—special chiral liquid crystalline mesophases—are promising candidates for electro‐optic devices with improved performance and simplified fabrication. A necessary precondition for possible applications is a significantly enhanced temperature range of their existence, which can be achieved by a cross‐linked polymer network formed by in situ polymerization. Unlike many other mesophases, blue phases are optically isotropic if no voltage is applied. Regarding the transmission of a blue phase cell placed between crossed polarizers, the optical isotropy enables—at least in principle—a perfect dark state, independent of the viewing angle, without the necessity of any alignment layer. The application of an in‐plane electric field induces a strong birefringence (Kerr effect). The effective Kerr constants are much larger than those of isotropic liquids, and the switching times between the dark and the induced bright state are in the submillisecond range. Some basic properties of blue phases, state‐of‐the‐art performance, and remaining challenges of the development of polymer‐stabilized blue phases are reviewed in this article. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The electrooptic characteristics of the field-induced reorientation of a nematic liquid crystal are studied using graphene layers as transparent conductive electrodes. The covering of a large area with highly conductive graphene was achieved by the thermal reduction of a graphene oxide film. The conductivity of the graphene electrode provides electrooptic properties that are comparable to those of liquid crystal cells with two conventional indium tin oxide electrodes. This result confirms earlier studies and suggestions concerning graphene-based liquid crystal devices. It demonstrates that the fabrication of graphene layers via the deposition and subsequent reduction of graphene oxide is suitable for liquid crystal applications.

Homologues of benzophenone silane, a covalently graftable, photochemically active surface functionalizing agent, are investigated as surface functionalization agents for both small particles and planar substrates.

Polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal in-plane switching cell.