Fig. 1. Characteristics of spherical cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC)droplets. (a) Molecular arrangements of spherical CLC droplets with different pitch (i)under planar anchoring in the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)solution and (ii)homeotropic anchoring in the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)solution^［39］; (b) Handedness inversion of spherical CLC droplets triggered by UV light^［40］； (c) Transmission and reflection images of spherical CLC droplets with different pitch under polarized optical microscope (POM）^［41］； (d) Schematics showing the variation of molecular arrangement of spherical CLC droplets as a function of temperature^［42］.

Fig. 2. Applications of spherical CLC droplets. (a) Monodisperse spherical CLC capsules prepared by microfluidics and applied in photonic materials^［45］; (b) Quantum dot-doped spherical CLC droplets showing both fluorescent and structural colors，which are used as inks for the design of anti-fake materials^［46］.

Fig. 3. Characteristics of oblate CLC droplets. (a) Models of oblate，spherical and prolate droplets^［47］; (b) Central selective reflection region of oblate CLC capsules increases as the aspect ratio increases^［48］； (c) When spherical CLC droplets change to oblate CLC droplets，point defect at the droplet center changes to a ring defect，greatly increasing the central Bragg selective reflection region^［49］.

Fig. 4. Applications of oblate CLC droplets. (a) Functional polymer films based on oblate CLC droplets，which show temperature-triggered synergetic color and shape responses^［49］; (b) When the polymer film is bi-directionally stretched，spherical CLC droplets change to oblate shape，greatly increasing the central selective reflection region and thus showing the structural color^［50］.

Fig. 5. Development of complex CLC droplets. (a) Core-shell CLC capsules prepared using W/LC/W emulsions as templates^［55］; (b) Multiple CLC capsules prepared using LC/W/LC/W emulsions as templates^［56］； (c) Reconfigurations between FC/LC/W，Janus and LC/FC/W structures tuned by the concentration of molecular surfactants^［33］.