Nanoparticles of various shapes and sizes can affect the optical properties and stabilization of blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs) due to the various compatibility with the LC host. Nanoparticles (NPs) that are highly compatible with the LC host can be dispersed in BPLCs of both the double twist cylinder (DTC) and disclination defects. We present a systematic study of the phase behavior of BPLC using CdSe nanoparticles with three different shapes (spheres, tetrapods and nanoplatelets) with identical cores and nearly identical long-chain hydrocarbon ligand materials. The spherical NPs are more compatible with the LC host than the tetrapod shape and platelet shape NPs, showing a wider temperature range of BP and a redshift of the reflection band of BP. While the inclusion of spherical NPs significantly tunes the optical properties of BPLCs, BPLCs with nanoplatelets have limited impact on the optical properties and stability of BPs due to poor compatibility with LC hosts. We report that the optical behavior of BPLC can be tuned by the type and concentration of NPs.
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