Liquid crystalline physical gels (LCPGs) with stable mechanical properties and fast electro-optical response properties were prepared through the self-assembly of side chain liquid crystalline polymers (SCLCPs) with different spacer length poly [omega-4'-cyano-(1, 1'-biphenyl)] acrylate (PmACB, m is the spacer length of SCLCP, m= 0, 2, 4) as gelators in a nematic liquid crystal, 4-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB). The gel-sol phase transition temperature (T-GS), micro morphology, mechanical properties and electro-optical properties of LCPGs (SCLCPs/5CB) were systematically studied. The results show that only POACB can form stable liquid crystalline physical gels in 5CB and show excellent thermal stability, good self-supporting ability and fast electro-optical response properties. The TGs of 6 wt% POACB/5CB gel is 192 degrees C, and it also showed stable mechanical properties, its storage modulus is about 1.0 x 10(4) Pa. The threshold voltage (V-th) and saturation voltage (V-sat) of POACB/5CB gel with 3 wt% concentration are 0.29 V mu m(-1) and 3.906 V mu m(-1) respectively, and the off state response time is only 6.748 ms. Moreover, the addition of the polymer does not affect the electro-optical response of the LCPGs. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.