Reversible full-range color control of a cholesteric liquid-crystalline film by using a molecular motor

By using a chiral molecular motor as a dopant in a cholesteric liquid crystalline film, fully reversible control of the reflection color of this film across the entire visible spectrum is possible. The large difference in helical twisting power between the two isomeric forms of the motor allows efficient light- and heat-induced switching of the helicity of the cholesteric liquid-crystal superstructure.