Electro-optical switching in a blue phase III exhibited by a chiral liquid crystal oligomer

The fast electric-field-induced phase transition from blue phase III (BPIII) to nematic (N) phase of a newly designed chiral liquid crystal possessing molecular biaxiality (see figure) is reported. The present finding can offer fast electro-optical switching between a well black state of the BPIII and a homogeneous bright state of the induced N phase without surface treatment.