Abstract: Compositions, devices, and methods are provided for a switchable alignment layer coated on a substrate for a liquid crystal device comprising an attachment layer and an adjustable side-chain, where an electric field is capable of changing orientation of the adjustable side-chain between a first state and a second state.

Abstract: A method of growing robust large area colloidal photonic crystals and devices produced thereby. A suspension of monosized colloidal spheres (1) is subjected to a composite shear (6) by applying a sequential set of shearing forces. The crystalline layers within the colloid experience shearing forces with components in both x and y directions, forcing the colloid into a singe face-centered-cubic structure in preference to a twinned face-centered-cubic structure. The method may also comprise the use of a dispersion medium which is capable of undergoing a controllable phase change from a liquid phase to a solid phase. The crystal may be fixed into a single face-centered cubic structure.