A Multi-Responsive Film from Polymerizable Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Microcapsules for Advanced Anti-Counterfeiting

Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) can be encapsulated within liquid crystal microcapsules (CLCMs) via ultrasonic emulsification, and this microcapsule structure offers advantages in liquid crystal (LC) orientation control and stability. However, CLCMs still face challenges in multiple stimulus responsiveness. In this study, polymerizable LC monomers are introduced as the core filler of CLCMs and polymerized under UV irradiation to form polymer networks. As a result, the structural color of the film changes, and the patterned coloration of the final prepared film gradually disappears upon exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, with the temperature increasing, the pattern of the film first appears and then disappears, ultimately rendering the film completely transparent. Overall, the results show that the CLCM films incorporating polymerizable LC core exhibit multi-stimuli responsiveness to light, heat, and humidity, demonstrating the potential of polymerizable CLCMs for advanced applications such as anti-counterfeiting technologies and sensors.