A bifacial colour-tunable system via combination of a cholesteric liquid crystal network and hydrogel

Abstract

We present a colour tunable system obtained by combining a humidity-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal network and hydrogel coatings, in a diligently designed cell-geometry. The design enables sensitive colour tuning via temperature-induced changes in humidity inside the cell. Uniquely, the system exhibits a bifacial response, causing either a blue- or red-shift in the reflected color when heated from opposite sides.