Gel dispersed liquid crystals

Microemulsion based gels (MBG) can be used as carrier materials for dispersed thermotropic liquid crystals (LC). The viscosity of the carrier material can be specifically changed by varying the gelatin content. The LC droplet sizes and their distribution in the MBG system are influenced by both the ratio between AOT surfactant and alcohol co-surfactant and the length of the carbon chain of the co-surfactant. LC droplets without or with only a small amount of alcohol co-surfactant have the same droplet size and show a radial structure.