Recently, a type of ferroelectric nematic fluid has been discovered in liquid crystals in which the molecular polar nature at molecule level is amplified to macroscopic scales through a ferroelectric packing of rod-shaped molecules. Here, we report on the experimental proof of a polar chiral liquid matter state, dubbed helielectric nematic, stabilized by the local polar ordering coupled to the chiral helicity. This helielectric structure carries the polar vector rotating helically, analogous to the magnetic counterpart of helimagnet. The helielectric state can be retained down to room temperature and demonstrates gigantic dielectric and nonlinear optical responses. This matter state opens a new chapter for developing the diverse polar liquid crystal devices.

最近，人们在液晶中发现了一种铁电向列液，其中分子水平的分子极性通过棒状分子的铁电堆积被放大到宏观尺度。在这里，我们报告了极性手性液态物质状态的实验证明，称为螺旋向列相，通过与手性螺旋性耦合的局部极性排序来稳定。这种螺旋电结构带有螺旋旋转的极矢量，类似于螺旋磁体的磁性对应物。螺旋电态可以保持到室温，并表现出巨大的介电和非线性光学响应。这种物质状态为开发多样化的极性液晶器件开启了新的篇章。