Carbon dots stabilized photoluminescent blue phase liquid crystals

Blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) have significant potential in the field of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and are proposed as potential next-generation of LCDs candidates. However, BPLCs do not emit light directly and need an extra backlight device. As a result, the blue phase liquid crystal display retains the disadvantages of low brightness and low energy efficiency, which remarkably limit its application. Recently, as a kind of novel fluorescent carbon nanomaterials, carbon dots (CDs) have captured considerable attention because of their excellent optical properties. Here, CDs were directly synthesized by a simple solvothermal method and introduced into BPLCs. By combining the excellent optical properties of CDs with the blue phase liquid crystal system, the photoluminescent blue phase liquid crystals (CDs-BPLCs) with self-photoluminescence are prepared. Meanwhile, the stability of BPLCs can be improved by CDs. Such CDs-BPLCs have enormous potential in the development of novel energy-saving display devices.

Automated summary

Blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) have significant potential as next-generation candidates for liquid crystal displays (LCDs), but they suffer from low brightness and energy efficiency due to the need for an extra backlight device. Carbon dots (CDs), a novel fluorescent carbon nanomaterial, were synthesized and introduced into BPLCs to create photoluminescent blue phase liquid crystals (CDs-BPLCs) with self-photoluminescence. CDs not only improve the stability of BPLCs, but also enhance their optical properties. This research opens up possibilities for the development of novel energy-saving display devices.