Robust liquid crystal droplets

The preparation and properties of cyanobiphenyl liquid crystal droplets enc apsulated by the polymerizable lecithin 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-gl yero-3-phospocholine (DC8,9 PC) are described. Under a wide variety of prep aration conditions the droplets obtain a diameter of approximately 10 mu m. These droplets are stable for periods of over one year at room temperature . Furthermore, they are stable upon temperature cycling between the nematic and isotropic phases and between the smectic A to nematic to isotropic pha se transitions.