Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Microdroplets: Fabrication, Structural Control, and Multifunctional Photonic Applications

ABSTRACT Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs), characterized by their unique helical structures and selective light reflection, have shown great potential in photonic and sensing applications. Miniaturizing CLCs into microdroplet structures preserves their intrinsic anisotropy and responsiveness while enhancing dispersibility, processability, and interfacial tunability, making them a rapidly developing research focus in functional soft materials. This review provides a concise and systematic overview of recent advances in the fabrication, structural control, and multifunctional applications of CLC microdroplets. Major fabrication strategies—including emulsification, microfluidics, polymerization‐induced phase separation, and inkjet printing—are compared in terms of size control, stability, and adaptability. Furthermore, we highlight key strategies for structural tuning and stimuli‐responsive modulation that govern droplet optical and dynamic behaviors. The review emphasizes the emerging roles of CLC microdroplets in smart photonic devices, sensing, anti‐counterfeiting, and soft actuators, while identifying current challenges in scalability, stability, and device integration. Finally, we outline future opportunities in multi‐responsive coupling, droplet array engineering, and system‐level applications, aiming to inspire further exploration and practical translation of CLC‐based soft photonic materials.