Electric field-driven structural changes in cholesteric shells for optical applications

Cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) shells with planar anchoring condition were prepared by using a capillary microfluidic technology. Under the influence of an electric field, shells were studied by filling them in glass cells coated with transparent ITO working as an electrode. CLC shells with a planar texture having dark brushes at 0 V under crossed polarizers transformed into a focal conic domain, a fingerprint texture, and finally to an isotropic phase with an increase of electric field that was confirmed by inserting the Bertrand lens in the polarized light path. In addition, our studies also show that the electric-field-driven isotropic phase was due to dielectric heating and local heating effects. The calculated magnitude of the local heating result from the model was in agreement with the experimental observation together with the chiral nematic to isotropic transition due to conventional heating. •For the first time, we have studied structural changes in CLC shells in the presence of external electric fields.•Large pitch CLC shells show Focal conic domains and Fingerprint texture in external electric fields.•Dielectric heating and local heating effects raised by the electric field led the CLC shells from CLC to Isotropic phase.