Imprinting of cholesteric textures in a polymer network is a method of preserving a macroscopically chiral phase in a system with no molecular chirality. By modifying the elastic properties of the network, the resulting stored helical twist can be manipulated within a wide range since the imprinting efficiency depends on the balance between the elastic constants and twisting power at network formation. One spectacular property of phase chirality imprinting is the created ability of the network to adsorb preferentially one stereo component from a racemic mixture. In this paper we explore this property of chirality transfer from a macroscopic to a molecular scale. In particular, we focus on the competition between the phase chirality and the local nematic order. We demonstrate that it is possible to control the subsequent release of a chiral solvent component from the imprinting network and the reversibility of the stereo-selective swelling by racemic solvents.

• Received 18 September 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.73.011803