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[Display omitted] • Electro-optical effects in liquid crystal helical nanostructures are analyzed. • Achievements to create liquid crystals with subwavelength helix pitch are emphasized. • Advantages of helical liquid crystals for use in photonic devices are underlined. • The unsolved problems in physics of helical smectic liquid crystals are mentioned. The origin of ferroelectricity in smectic liquid crystals is attributed to the chirality of their molecules. The chirality reduces the space symmetry and leads to the helical (helicoidal) spatial distribution of molecular axes in ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid crystals (FLCs and AFLCs), called a helical structure, or helical nanostructure, if its period is much less than any wavelength of visible light. Deformations of FLCs and AFLCs helical structures under the applied electric field E lead to the emergence of a number of specific electro-optical effects. This review analyzes the main results of experimental and theoretical studies of various electro-optical manifestations of FLCs and AFLCs helical nanostructures deformations, which are already used to develop displays and photonic devices of a new generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Helical polyphenyl nanostructures were formed on carbon nanotubes through self-assemble process. • A core-shell structure was formed finally. • The interactions between different halogenated benzene polymer and carbon nanotube were also studied. In this manuscript, helical polyphenyl (PP) nanostructures were formed on single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) through self-assemble process which was investigated by a molecular dynamics simulation. The results displayed that the linear polyphenyl changed into helical structure and finally a core–shell structure was formed. The formation mechanism of whole process was also exhibited. Furthermore, some influence factors such as the initial angle between polyphenyl chain and nanotube axis, the diameter of carbon nanotube were also displayed. Moreover, the interactions between different halogenated benzene polymer and carbon nanotube were also studied. The new geometrical structures between polyphenyl and single-wall carbon nanotubes may attract more attention in chemical functionalization and helical polymer synthesis, which may be helpful for fabricating nanoscale devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multiple helical nanostructures are formed which are induced by the boron nitride nanotubes. • The chain number of polyacetylene influences the final configuration of polymer. • Some other influence factors are also displayed. In this manuscript, a molecular dynamics simulation was used to investigate the formation process of multiple helical nanostructures which was induced by the boron nitride nanotubes. The results displayed that three chains of polyacetylene changed to helical nanostructures in the boron nitride nanotube through self-assemble process. The combined action of the van der Waals potential well and the π–π stacking interaction between the polyacetylene and the inner surface of boron nitride nanotubes results in the formation of helical nanostructures. The chain number of polyacetylene influences the final configuration of polymer. Furthermore, some other influence factors such as the diameter of boron nitride nanotube and the length of polymer were also displayed. The new geometrical structures between polyacetylene and boron nitride nanotubes may attract more attention in chemical functionalization and helical polymer synthesis, which may be helpful for fabricating nanoscale devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]