A method for preparing electro-optical polymer-liquid crystal photonic crystals, comprising: disposing between at least two optically transparent electrode plates, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material that comprises, before exposure: (a) a polymerizable monomer comprising at least one acrylate; (b) a liquid crystal; (c) a chain-extending monomer; (d) a coinitiator; (e) a photoinitiator; and (f) a long chain aliphatic acid; and exposing this polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material to light in an interference pattern.