Cholesteric Networks Containing Free Molecules

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Abstract
Two-component liquid crystalline (LC) mixtures containing LC diacrylates and chiral molecules with no reactive groups were made. Upon photopolymerisation of the mixtures, cholesteric networks containing up to 28% w/w chiral molecules which were not chemically attached to the networks were created. Temperature dependence of the optical properties of the polymerised systems was found to be determined to a large extent by the network molecules which also dominated the behaviour of the chiral molecules which were not chemically attached to the network. The cholesteric networks were stable and even when heated up to elevated temperatures, they preserved their helicoidal structure.