title: Thermal switching of the reflection in chiral nematic mesoporous organosilica films infiltrated with liquid crystals.
abstract: Materials that undergo stimulus-induced optical changes are important for many new technologies. In this paper, we describe a new free-standing silica-based composite film that exhibits reversible thermochromic reflection, induced by a liquid crystalline guest in the pores of iridescent mesoporous films. We demonstrate that selective reflection from the novel mesoporous organosilica material with chiral nematic organization can be reversibly switched by thermal cycling of the 8CB guest between its isotropic and liquid crystalline states, which was proven by solid-state NMR experiments. The switching of the optical properties of the chiral solid-state host by stimulus-induced transitions of the guest opens the possibility of applications for these novel materials in sensors and displays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giese
authors.forename: Joanna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: De Witt
authors.forename: Kevin E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Shopsowitz
authors.forename: Alan P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.forename: Ronald Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Michal
authors.forename: Wadood Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: MacLachlan