title: Nanoparticle-induced widening of the temperature range of liquid-crystalline blue phases.
abstract: Liquid-crystalline blue phases exhibit exceptional properties for applications in the display and sensor industry. However, in single component systems, they are stable only for very narrow temperature range between the isotropic and the chiral nematic phase, a feature that severely hinders their applicability. Systematic high-resolution calorimetric studies reveal that blue phase III is effectively stabilized in a wide temperature range by mixing surface-functionalized nanoparticles with chiral liquid crystals. This effect is present for two liquid crystals, yielding a robust method to stabilize blue phases, especially blue phase III. Theoretical arguments show that the aggregation of nanoparticles at disclination lines is responsible for the observed effects.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, 15310 Aghia Paraskevi, Greece.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karatairi
authors.forename: Brigita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rozic
authors.forename: Zdravko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kutnjak
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tzitzios
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nounesis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cordoyiannis
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thoen
authors.forename: Christ
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Glorieux
authors.forename: Samo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kralj