Carsten Tschierske

• Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

A library of rod‐like bolapolyphiles with sticky hydrogen‐bonded glycerol groups at their ends and having highly branched side chains with a carbosilane‐based four‐way branching point, all based on the same oligo(phenylene ethynylene) core, has been synthesized and investigated. For these compounds, a A15‐type Frank–Kasper phase is formed upon side...

Rod-like bolapolyphiles with highly branched carbosilane-based side-chains self-assemble into several honeycomb structures if the oligo(p-phenylene ethynylene) core is polyfluorinated, whereas for the non-fluorinated series an A15 type cubic network of...

Development of new functional materials requires the understanding of the fundamental rules of complex superstructure formation in self-assembling systems. Here we report new liquid crystalline honeycombs based on reticular self-assembly...

Quasiperiodic patterns and crystals—having long range order without translational symmetry—have fascinated researchers since their discovery. In this study, we report on new p‐terphenyl‐based T‐shaped facial polyphiles with two alkyl end chains and a glycerol‐based hydrogen‐bonded side group that self‐assemble into an aperiodic columnar liquid quas...

Quasiperiodic patterns and crystals ‐ having long range order without translational symmetry ‐ fascinate researchers since their discovery. In this study, we report on new p‐terphenyl based T‐shaped facial polyphiles with two alkyl end‐chains and a glycerol‐based hydrogen‐bonded side‐group, self‐assembling into an aperiodic columnar liquid quasicry...

Quasicrystals are intriguing structures that have long-range positional correlations but no periodicity in real space, and typically with rotational symmetries that are ‘forbidden’ in conventional periodic crystals. Here, we present a two-dimensional columnar liquid quasicrystal with dodecagonal symmetry. Unlike previous dodecagonal quasicrystals b...

A novel phase sequence for the transition from the double diamond to the double gyroid cubic phases via two non-cubic intermediate phases, an orthorhombic Fmmm (O69) phase and a hexagonal P63/m (H176) phase, is reported for specifically designed bolapolyphiles composed of a linear rod-like bistolane core with sticky glycerol ends and two branched c...

Spontaneous generation of chirality from achiral molecules is a contemporary research topic with numerous implications for technological applications and for the understanding of the development of homogeneous chirality in biosystems. Herein, a series of azobenzene based rod‐like molecules with an 3,4,5‐trialkylated end and a single n‐alkyl chain i...

Rod-like liquid crystalline (LC) polyphilic compounds with a linear oligo(phenyleneethynylene) core, sticky glycerol groups at each end and two long alkyl side chains (C20–C32) at opposite sides form rhombic honeycombs with inner angles around 60/120°, occurring between triangular and square tiling patterns.

The Pm3‾ n cubic and other low‐symmetry Frank–Kasper phases are known to be formed by soft spheres, ranging from metals to block copolymer micelles and colloidal nanoparticles. Here, we report a series of X‐shaped polyphiles composed of sticky rods and two non‐symmetric branched side‐chains, which self‐assemble into the first example of a cubic liq...

The Pm 3̅ n cubic and other low‐symmetry Frank‐Kasper phases are known to be formed by soft spheres, ranging from metals to block copolymer micelles and colloidal nano‐particles. Here, we report a series of X‐shaped polyphiles composed of sticky rods and two non‐symmetric branched side‐chains, which self‐assemble into the first example of a cubic l...

Bicontinuous and multicontinuous network phases are among nature's most complex structures in soft matter systems. Here, a chiral bicontinuous tetragonal phase is reported as a new stable liquid crystalline intermediate phase at the transition between two cubic phases, the achiral double gyroid and the chiral triple network cubic phase with an I23...

Liquid crystalline (LC) photo sensitive materials capable of forming mirror-symmetry broken mesophases are of great interest to produce nano-structured materials for optical and photonic applications. Herein we report how mirror-symmetry breaking could be controlled in photo sensitive supramolecular polycatenars by alkyl chain engineering. For this...

In this account, bent-core molecules involving the polar cyano-group are reviewed with a focus on the intensely investigated class of 4-cyanoresorcinol bisbenzoates. Cybotaxis and phase biaxiality of their nematic phases, the transition from nematic to smectic phases and the development of tilt and polar order in their smectic phases are discussed....

Quasicrystals are intriguing structures, having long-range positional correlations but no periodicity, typically with rotational symmetries that are “forbidden” in normal crystals. Here we present the discovery of a two-dimensional columnar liquid quasicrystal with dodecagonal symmetry. Unlike previous dodecagonal quasicrystals based on random tili...

Mirror symmetry breaking in systems composed of achiral molecules is of importance for the design of functional materials for technological applications as well as for the understanding of the mechanisms of spontaneous emergence of chirality. Herein, we report the design and molecular self‐assembly of two series of rod‐like achiral polycatenar mole...

The synclinic tilted organization of specifically designed polyphilic oligo(p-phenylene ethynylene) rods in cylindrical shells around triangular prismatic cells on the <5 nm scale leads to a new kind of liquid...

Achiral multi-chain (polycatenar) compounds based on the 2,7-diphenyl substituted [1]benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene (BTBT) unit and a 2,6-dibromo-3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoate end group lead to materials forming bicontinuous cubic liquid crystaline phases with helical network structures...

First examples of multichain (polycatenar) compounds, based on the π‐conjugated [1]benzothieno[3,2‐b]benzothiophene unit are designed, synthesized, and their soft self‐assembly and charge carrier mobility are investigated. These compounds, terminated by the new fan‐shaped 2‐brominated 3,4,5‐trialkoxybenzoate moiety, form bicontinuous cubic liquid c...

Comments and the work presented in this paper aim at initiating discussion within the liquid crystalline community about the nature of different biaxial phases and their switching mechanisms. The mechanisms have the potential for applications in switching devices for displays and photonics. Claire Meyer et. al. interestingly report recently a fast...

Photo-switchable materials with liquid crystalline (LC) properties and being capable of showing mirror-symmetry breaking are of special interest from a fundamental scientific point of view as well as for the development of π-conjugated materials with tailored superstructures for optical, emissive and photonic materials. Herein we report two new ser...

4-Cyanoresorcinol based bent-core compounds combining one branched chiral with one achiral linear end-chain have been synthesized in enatiomerically pure and one compound also in racemic form. All homochiral compounds form a chiral cybotactic nematic phase at relatively low temperature with a selective reflection ranging from the near IR to near UV...

Controlling the spatial organization of π‐conjugated molecules in soft systems is of importance for the design of new materials with application relevant optimized properties. Here, soft self‐assembly of functional multi‐chained π‐conjugated 5,5′‐diphenyl‐2,2′‐bithiophenes is investigated. Focus is on molecules with a 3,5‐disubstitution pattern at...

In article number 2004353, Goran Ungar, Carsten Tschierske, and co‐workers present a general design concept of bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals consisting of helical networks that are stable over a broad temperature range. Increasingly bulky substituents cause increasing helical twist between the three‐chain 2,2′‐bithiophene based molecular rods,...

The polar nature of three pure homologous bent-core compounds derived from 4-cyanoresorcinol bisbenzoates as a central core unit have been studied based on the dielectric spectroscopy measurement and the electro-optical investigation. All these compounds exhibit a highly correlated nematic phase (NCybC) followed by a phase (CybC) comprising of elon...

Spontaneous development of chirality in systems composed of achiral molecules is important for new routes to asymmetric synthesis, chiral superstructures and materials, as well as for the understanding of the mechanisms of emergence of prebiotic chirality. Herein, it is shown that the 4,4′‐diphenylbenzil unit is a universal transiently chiral bent...

Patterning on the sub‐5 nm length scale is a contemporary challenge for further miniaturization of microelectronic circuits. Here, the first soft self‐assembled triangular patterns are reported showing transitions between regular and two different kinds of isosceles (acute and obtuse angled) triangles on this length scale, formed by liquid crystall...

Dichte Packung oder Netzwerk? Eine offene oktaedrische Netzwerkstruktur, gebildet durch weiche Selbstorganisation, wird von C. Tschierske, F. Liu et al. in ihrer Zuschrift beschrieben (DOI: 10.1002/ange.202008784). π‐konjugierte Stäbe bilden Netzwerke, die durch Acht‐Wege‐Knotenpunkte verbunden sind und nanosegregierte Sphären mit Beteiligung der w...

Dense sphere packing or network? An open octahedral network structure formed by soft self‐assembly is reported by C. Tschierske, F. Liu et al. in their Communication (DOI: 10.1002/anie.202008784). π‐conjugated rods form the networks conjoined by eight‐way junctions, representing nano‐segregated spheres involving the hydrogen bonded polar end groups...

Liquid state self‐assembly is important for the understanding of the complex structures developed in abiogenesis and biogenesis as well as for numerous potential technological applications. Herein we report the first body‐centered cubic liquid crystalline phase with 8‐connected network topology and open octahedral network structure. It is formed by...

A series of achiral tricatenar rod-like molecules with a 3,5-disubstitution pattern at one end and a single alkyl chain at the other end of a rod-like azobenzene derived core is reported. Depending on temperature and alkyl chain length, these Y-shaped compounds self-assemble into different types of liquid crystalline phases, ranging from non-tilted...

Bicontinuous cubic liquid crystalline phases of π‐conjugated molecules, representing self‐assembled 3D‐ordered interpenetrating networks with cubic symmetry, are receiving increasing attention due to their capacity for charge transport in all three dimensions and their inherent spontaneous helicity. Herein, a robust general design concept for creat...

We demonstrate the reversible photomanipulation of the bulk mechanical properties in the azobenzene‐containing bent‐core liquid crystal. The azobenzene groups in the mesogens exhibit reversible cis‐trans photoisomerization abilities. An unprecedentedly large reduction by the factor of more than 5 of the splay elastic constant in a cybotactic‐type n...

The bicontinuous double gyroid phase is one of the nature’s most symmetric and complex structures, the electron density map of which was established long ago. By utilizing small-angle x-ray scattering, resonant soft x-ray scattering at the carbon K edge and model-dependent tensor-based scattering theory, we have not only elucidated morphology but a...

Recent progress in mirror symmetry breaking and chirality amplification in isotropic liquids and liquid crystalline cubic phases of achiral molecule is reviewed and discussed with respect to its implications for the hypothesis of emergence of biological chirality. It is shown that mirror symmetry breaking takes place in fluid systems where homochir...

Liquid state self‐assembly is important for the understanding of the complex structures having been developed in abiogenesis and biogenesis as well as for numerous potential technological applications. Here the first body‐centered cubic liquid crystalline phase with 8‐connected network topology and open octahedral network structure is reported to b...

Molecular tessellations are known in solid state systems and their formation is often induced or supported by a periodic surface lattice. Here we discover a complex tessellation on the 10 nm length scale, spontaneously formed in the highly dynamic liquid crystalline state. It is composed of overlapping dodecagonal supertiles combining prismatic cel...

The impact of core fluorination on the phase behaviour of supramolecular hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals (HBLCs) is investigated in detail. Therefore, different types of HBLCs were synthesized using two benzoic acid derivatives as proton donors, namely, 4-octyloxybenzoic acid and octylbenzoic acid. The two acids were combined through intermolecular...

Benzil (diphenylethane-1,2-dione), which is a long known example for an achiral molecule crystallizing in a chiral space group, can also show mirror symmetry breaking in the fluid state if it is properly functionalized. For some of these new benzil derivatives even three different subsequent mirror symmetry broken soft matter states with chiral con...

Spontaneous double mirror symmetry breaking in anisotropic polar fluids is observed in the lamellar liquid crystalline phases of the shown achiral bent‐core molecules, where two distinct modes of supramolecular chirality develop simultaneously. One is the helix formation, driven by the escape from an emerging macroscopic polarization due to the ali...

A series of bent‐shaped 4‐cyanoresorcinol bisterephthalates is reported. Some of these achiral compounds spontaneously form a short‐pitch heliconical lamellar liquid‐crystalline phase with incommensurate 3‐layer pitch and the helix axis parallel to the layer normal. It is observed at the paraelectric‐(anti)ferroelectric transition, if it coincides...

Novel bolapolyphiles, built of a p-terphenyl or bistolane core with polar glycerol end-groups and two laterally attached n-alkyl or semiperfluoroalkyl chains form the first “single plumber’s nightmare” network, the simplest soft-matter cubic phase (Pm-3m). Its cage-like grid comprises bundles of aromatic rods lying along the cubic unit cell edges,...

The physical properties and the phase transitions of a smectic liquid crystal material built from achiral bent-core molecules are investigated by electro-optics, polarizing microscopy, birefringence, and spontaneous polarization. This material is shown to exhibit a number of orthogonal and tilted smectic phases. The observation of an anomalous phas...

We discuss three series of substituted resorcinol based bent-core liquid crystals with azobenzene wings, substituents consisting of methyl (-CH3) and halogens (F, Cl, Br) on the resorcinol core connected to azobenzene wings with variable alkoxy chains. The effect of electron-donating (-CH3) and electron-withdrawing (halogens) group on the photoisom...

Fluids with spontaneous helical structures formed by achiral low molecular mass molecules is a newly emerging field with great application potential. Here, we explore the chemical mechanisms of the helix formation by systematically modifying the structure of a bent 4-cyanoresorcinol unit functionalized with two different phenyl benzoate based aroma...

The single gyroid phase as well as the alternating double network gyroid, composed of two alternating single gyroid networks, hold a significant place in ordered nanoscale morphologies for their potential applications as photonic crystals, metamaterials and templates for porous ceramics and metals. Here, we report the first alternating network cubi...

The bola-amphiphilic, T-shaped mesogen CT2 has an aromatic, biphenyl core terminated on both ends by hydrophilic groups and a semi-perfluorinated, aliphatic side chain. Upon cooling from the isotropic phase, the fluorinated tails and the polar, rod-like cores nanophase-segregate to form a fluid lamellar phase. At high temperatures, the biphenyl cor...

Rod-like molecules combining a fork-like triple chain end and a cycloaliphatic apex are introduced as a new design concept for materials with broad ranges of bicontinuous cubic (Cubbi) phases. By ring expansion from n = 4 to 12 a sequence of three Cubbi phases is observed; the achiral double gyroid Ia3¯d-phase, a chiral “Im3m” phase and an achiral...

A new liquid crystalline honeycomb phase is reported, containing highly stretched giant hexagonal cells with two opposing walls spanned by three consecutive end-to-end H-bonded rods, the (3 1 1) hexagons.

Die Selbstsortierung der beiden inkompatiblen Seitenketten von X‐förmigen Polyphilen in getrennte Netzwerke führt zu einer chiralen kubischen Gyroid‐Phase („Single gyroid” I4132) mit zwei chemisch ungleichen Netzwerken und Sub‐10‐nm‐Periodizität. Dies ist der erste kubische Netzwerk‐Gyroid‐Flüssigkristall und der erste Flüssigkristall, dessen Chira...

We have designed a compound that forms square liquid crystal honeycomb patterns with a cell size of only 3 nm and with zero in-plane thermal expansion. The compound is a bolaamphiphile with a π-conjugated rod-like core and two mutually poorly compatible side-chains attached on each side of the rod at its centre. The system exhibits a unique phase t...

Herein we report the soft self-assembly of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles with carbosilane end groups in a series of polar and mirror-symmetry broken liquid crystalline (LC) phases. Most compounds are based on the new 4-[4-(5-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)]benzoate building block and involve carbosilane end-groups. Compounds combining one silylated and on...

Two 4-cyanoresorcinol-derived achiral bent-core liquid crystalline materials with terephthalate wings terminated by long alkyl chains CnH2n+1, 1/n=1/16 and 1/18, are investigated. Both compounds form a paraelectric smectic phase with uniform (synclinic) molecular tilt in layers of the SmC phase composed of fluctuating polar clusters (polarization r...

The first single‐diamond cubic phase in a liquid crystal is reported. This skeletal structure with the Fd3‾m space group is formed by self‐assembly of bolaamphiphiles with swallow‐tailed lateral chains. It consists of bundles of π‐conjugated p‐terphenyl rods fused into an infinite network by hydrogen‐bonded spheres at tetrahedral four‐way junctions...

In recent years, liquid crystals (LCs) responding to light or electrical fields have gained significant importance as multifunctional materials. Herein, two new series of photoswitchable bent‐core liquid crystals (BCLCs) derived from 4‐cyanoresorcinol as the central core connected to an azobenzene based wing and a phenyl benzoate wing are reported....

We report the first single diamond cubic phase in a liquid crystal. This skeletal structure with Fd3¯m space group is formed by self‐assembly of bolaamphiphiles with swallow‐tailed lateral chains. It consists of bundles of π‐conjugated p‐terphenyl rods fused into an infinite network by hydrogen‐bonded spheres at tetrahedral four‐way junctions. We a...

An achiral, bent-core mesogen forms several tilted smectic liquid crystal phases, including a nonpolar, achiral de Vries smectic A which transitions to a chiral, ferroelectric state in applied electric fields above a threshold. At lower temperature, a chiral, ferrielectric phase with a periodic, supermolecular modulation of the tilt azimuth, indica...

X-Shaped bolapolyphiles, comprising a linear polyaromatic core with glycerol groups at each end and two chemically different and incompatible chains, fixed to it at opposite sides, were synthesized and found to self-assemble into honeycomb-type liquid crystalline phases with square symmetry. The polyaromatic -conjugated rods form the cell walls an...

Bent-core liquid crystals (BCLCs) exhibit unique properties like spontaneous breaking of the mirror symmetry and polar switching by electric fields, forming the basis of a range of applications currently being...

We have designed a compound that forms square liquid crystal honeycomb patterns with cell size of only 3 nm and with zero in-plane thermal expansion. The compound is a bolaamphiphile with a -conjugated rod-like core and two mutually poorly compatible side-chains attached on each side of the rod at its centre. The system exhibits a unique phase tra...

Photosensitive liquid crystalline materials whose properties could be modified with UV–visible light irradiation are of special interest for photosensitive and photoswitching materials. Herein we represent the first examples of light-responsive halogen bonded supramolecular polycatenars. Photoswitchable liquid-crystalline aggregates were designed a...

Square and other rectangular nanoscale tiling patterns are of contemporary interest for soft lithography. Though soft square patterns on a ≈40 nm length scale can be achieved with block copolymers, even smaller tiling patterns below 5 nm can be expected for liquid crystalline phases of small molecules. However, these usually form lamellar and hexag...

Bolaamphiphiles are well known naturally occurring structures that can increase the thermal und mechanical stability of phospholipid membrane by incorporation in a trans-membrane manner. Modifications of bolaamphiphiles to introduce particular structural elements like a conjugated aromatic backbone and lateral side chains in the hydrophobic region...

p-terphenyl based Y-shaped bolapolyphiles self-assemble into liquid crystalline honeycombs with co-axial organization of the -conjugated rods around columns filled by alkyl sidechains. In this new hexagonal honeycomb with P6/mmm symmetry...

In the recent two decades liquid crystal science has contributed significantly to the understanding of mirror symmetry breaking and spontaneous emergence of chirality in fluids. This account tries to summarise the current state of understanding of mirror symmetry breaking in the liquid and liquid crystalline mesophases, ranging from isotropic liqui...

A bolapolyphile, derived from a linear p-terphenyl core with glycerol groups at each end and two octadecyl chains fixed to the same side of the -conjugated rod, is synthesized and is found to form a new type of self-assembled cubic LC phase with Ia3¯d lattice. Each unit cell involves 16 polar aggregates interconnected by 24 coaxial rod-bundles at...

The dimensionality of self‐assembled nano‐structures plays an essential role for their properties and applications. Here we provide an understanding of the transition from weakly to strongly coupled lamellea in soft matter systems involving in‐plane organized π‐conjugated rods. For this purpose bolaamphiphilic triblock molecules consisting of a rig...

A new type of supramolecular liquid crystalline complexes formed by intermolecular hydrogen bond formation between rod-like 4-(4ʹ-pyridylazophenyl)-4ʺ-alkoxybenzoates as proton acceptors and 4-[5-(4ʹ-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy)alkyloxy]benzoic acids as proton donors have been designed and prepared. The benzoic acids derivatives consist of two variable a...

Two homologue achiral bent-core liquid crystals (LCs), BCN66 and BCN84, in their nematic phases are studied by dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 10 Hz–10 MHz. In each of these compounds, two relaxation processes are identified and assigned to (i) collective dynamics of molecules in nanometer-sized cybotactic clusters and (ii) individua...

The so‐called smectic‐Q (SmQ) liquid crystal phase was discovered in 1983 in rod‐like molecules, but its structure remain unclear in spite of numerous attempts to solve it. Herein, we report what we believe to be the solution: A unique bicontinuous phase that is non‐cubic and is made up of orthogonal twisted columns with planar 4‐way junctions. Whi...

Flüssigkristalle existieren in diversen Strukturen, die viele Möglichkeiten für nanotechnologische Anwendungen bieten. Die Struktur einer bestimmten flüssigkristallinen Phase, der Smektisch-Q-Phase, konnte allerdings über 35 Jahre nicht aufgeklärt werden. Jetzt ist es soweit: X. B. Zeng, G. Ungar, C. Tschierske et al. beschreiben in ihrer Zuschrift...

The so-called Smectic-Q phase (SmQ) liquid crystal phase has been discovered in 1983 in rod-like molecules, but its structure remain unclear in spite of numer-ous attempts to solve it. Here we report what we believe to be the solution: a unique bicontinuous phase that is non-cubic and is made up of orthogonal twist-ed columns with planar 4-way junc...

The so-called Smectic-Q phase (SmQ) liquid crystal phase has been discovered in 1983 in rod-like molecules, but its structure remain unclear in spite of numer-ous attempts to solve it. Here we report what we believe to be the solution: a unique bicontinuous phase that is non-cubic and is made up of orthogonal twist-ed columns with planar 4-way junc...

A 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine carrying a single oligo(ethylene oxide) (EO) chain has been investigated in binary mixtures with two-chain and three-chain semiperfluorinated benzoic acids. Mixtures of the triazine with three equivalents of the complementary acids exhibit a hexagonal columnar (Colh) mesophase. Docking of three acid molecules t...

We report the observation of an electro-optical effect for a linear rotation of the optical axis as function of the electric field in an achiral tilted bent-core liquid crystalline compound, in which 4-cyanoresorcinol bisbenzoate core is symmetrically terminated by long linear alkyl chains (n =16) on both ends. The linear electro-optic effect obser...

Supramolecular self-assembly of membrane constituents within a phospholipid bilayer creates complex functional platforms in biological cells that operate in intracellular signaling, trafficking and membrane remodeling. Synthetic polyphilic compounds of macromolecular or small size can be incorporated into artificial phospholipid bilayers. Featuring...

Polyphilic self-assembly leads to compartmentalization of space and development of complex structures in soft matter on different length scales, reaching from the morphologies of block copolymers to the liquid crystalline (LC) phases of small molecules. Whereas block copolymers are known to form membranes and interact with phospholipid bilayers, li...

2,4-Diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazines grafted with one or two semiperfluorinated chains at the phenyl substituent have been investigated in binary mixtures with one-chain and two-chain oligo(dimethylsiloxy) terminated 4-alkoxy- and 3,4-dialkoxybenzoic acids. Equimolar mixtures of the triazines with the complementary acids form discrete double hydrog...

Bent-core molecules can form numerous polar and symmetry broken liquid crystalline phases with fascinating properties. Here we report the characteristics of a previously unknown polar synclinic smectic phase, SmCSPX, found in the phase sequence of an achiral bent-core material with a 4-cyanoresorcinol bisbenzoate core, terminated by long linear alk...

Here, we report the synthesis and investigations of hockey-stick liquid crystalline materials derived from 4-cyanoresorcinol as the central core unit. The effect of distinct linking groups (NN, COO, OOC) and the effect of inverting the direction of the cyano group on the resorcinol core with respect to the different side arms on the liquid crystall...

Spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking is a fundamental process for development of chirality in natural and in artificial self-assembled systems. Here we report a new series of triple chain azobenzene based rod-like compounds, which for the first time show mirror symmetry breaking in an isotropic liquid occurring adjacent to a lamellar LC phase. The...

Photosensitive liquid crystals are of contemporary interest not only from the scientific point of view but also for various applications. Herein we report the first photosensitive materials based on laterally substituted 3-hydroxybenzoic acid. The molecular self-assembly of these new materials was characterized using different physical techniques i...

Spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking is a fundamental process for development of chirality in natural and in artificial self-assembled systems. Here we report a new series of triple chain azobenzene based rod-like compounds, which for the first time show mirror symmetry breaking in an isotropic liquid occurring adjacent to a lamellar LC phase. The...

First liquid crystalline phases with tilted organization of rod-like aromatics in a square honeycomb structure were discovered. The developing tilt is temperature, chain length and chain volume dependent, and has a dramatic effect on the optical properties, occasionally leading to an inversion of birefringence. The observed effects of chain branchi...

A sequence of liquid crystalline phases, involving cybotactic nematics, a lamellar phase, bicontinuous cubics and triangular honeycombs, was observed for oligo(phenylene ethynylene) based X-shaped bolapolyphiles with two long lateral alkyl chains and sticky ends provided by glycerol groups. In the cubic phase with Ia3¯d lattice - which is tailored...

Bicontinuous cubic phases are of significant importance for numerous applications, for example, for the crystallization of membrane proteins, as photonic materials and as templates for porous silica. A new variant of bicontinuous cubic liquid crystalline phase with Ia3?d lattice is reported here for X-shaped bolapolyphiles. It is shown that in this...

Molecular spoked wheels with an all-phenylene backbone and different alkoxy side chain substitution patterns were synthesized using a cobalt-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition and subsequent template-directed cyclization via Yamamoto coupling. The two-dimensional organization of the molecules at the solid/liquid interface was investigated by means of...

A new bent-core liquid crystalline material consisting of a 4-cyanoresorcinol unit with two terephthalate based rod-like wings and terminated by two short alkyl chains was synthesized. Its liquid crystalline (LC) self-assembly and the development of polar order in the LC phases were investigated. The polar order is characterised using second harmon...

Organic ferroelectrics are of growing importance for multifunctional materials. Here we provide an understanding of the distinct stages of the development of sterically induced polar order in liquid crystalline (LC) soft matter. Three series of weakly bent molecules derived from 4-cyanoresorcinol as the bent core unit with laterally fluorinated azo...

In recent years, the analysis of proton double-quantum NMR build-up curves has become an important tool to quantify anisotropic mobility in different kinds of soft materials such as polymer networks or liquid crystals. In the former case, such data provides a measure of orientation-dependent residual (time-averaged) dipolar couplings arising from a...

Achiral supramolecular hydrogen bonded complexes between rod-like 4-(4-alkoxyphenylazo)pyridines and a taper shaped 4-substituted benzoic acid form achiral (Ia3[combining macron]d) and chiral "Im3[combining macron]m-type" bicontinuous cubic (I432) phases and a chiral isotropic liquid mesophase (Iso1([)*(])). The chiral phases, resulting from sponta...