Chiral Materials: Chiral Self‐Assembled Solid Microspheres: A Novel Multifunctional Microphotonic Device (Adv. Mater. 48/2011)

The photopolymerization of cholesteric liquid crystal droplets leads to the generation of solid chiral microspheres. The methodological approach of Cipparrone et al. reported on page 5773 enables control of the internal helical geometry of solid particles using dopant species in the precursor liquid crystal emulsion. The solid particles exhibit fascinating optical properties appropriate for applications in lab-on-a-chip technologies and colloidal science. Their unique capabilities are demonstrated by optical manipulation and lasing experiments.