Blue Phase Liquid Crystal Reflective Materials and Devices

Xiaolong You; Meng Wang; Yonggang Yang; Yinjie Chen

doi:10.7536/PC20250726

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Prog Chem ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2) : 337-351. DOI: 10.7536/PC20250726

Review

Blue Phase Liquid Crystal Reflective Materials and Devices

Xiaolong You ¹ ,
Meng Wang ² ,
Yonggang Yang ¹^,^* ,
Yinjie Chen ¹^,^*

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History +

Abstract

Blue phase liquid crystals （BPLCs），as self-assembled three-dimensional photonic crystals，exhibit tunable structural colors originating from their distinctive Bragg reflection. However，the reflective efficiency and color saturation of conventional BPLC devices often fall short of the demands of cutting-edge applications，spurring the pursuit of “super-reflection”—a state characterized by near-theoretical-limit reflectivity and high color purity. This review systematically summarizes and critically discusses recent advances in the field of super-reflective BPLCs. We elucidate the microscopic structure of BPLCs，their photonic bandgap effects，and the underlying physical mechanism of selective reflection. Furthermore，we categorize three core strategies for achieving super-reflection：i） optimizing intrinsic material properties via molecular engineering，ii） enhancing structural perfection and defect suppression through lattice control，and iii） designing multi-layer or composite device architectures based on optical resonance. Key application breakthroughs are reviewed，spanning next-generation reflective displays，multi-modal optical anti-counterfeiting，highly sensitive sensing，tunable laser protection，and novel optical imaging. Finally，we analyze the core challenges facing the field，including material stability，large-area fabrication，and the range of dynamic tunability. The review concludes with perspectives on future directions，particularly the convergence of BPLCs with smart materials and advanced manufacturing technologies，aiming to provide insights and inspiration for advancing the theoretical understanding and industrial application of BPLC-based photonic devices.

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Structure and reflection color mechanism of blue phase liquid crystal

2.1 Microstructure and phase behavior of BPLC

2.2 Bragg reflection and photonic bandgap effect

2.3 Key factors affecting reflection characteristics

3 Implementation strategy and quality control of blue phase liquid crystal superreflection

3.1 Material design and optimization

3.2 Structural perfection and defect control

3.3 Multilayer structure and optical resonance design

4 Cutting-edge applications of superreflective BPLC

4.1 Application of blue phase liquid crystal in display technology

4.2 Applications in optical security

4.3 Optical sensing and imaging applications

5 Conclusions

Key words

blue phase liquid crystal / superreflection / photonic crystal / structural color / dynamic control / optical device

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Xiaolong You , Meng Wang , Yonggang Yang , et al. Blue Phase Liquid Crystal Reflective Materials and Devices[J]. Progress in Chemistry. 2026, 38(2): 337-351 https://doi.org/10.7536/PC20250726

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