Stabilization of blue phases by solvent effect using n-octadecane with a simple linear molecular structure

We investigated how mixing a n-octadecane with a simple linear molecular structure affects the stability of a liquid-crystalline blue phase (BP). It was found that the addition of the solvent reduces the appearance temperature of the BPs and expands the temperature range over which the BPs are seen. From our measurement, we confirmed that the solvent molecules were dispersed uniformly throughout the liquid-crystal phase. Also, we found that the solvent molecules reduce the splay and bend elastic constants K1 and K3, as well as the ratio K3/K1. We propose that the reduction of K3/K1 by mixing solvent molecules contributes to the stabilization of the BPs, in agreement with existing theoretical predictions.