Zeolite-like liquid crystals

Silvio Poppe, Anne Lehmann, Alexander Scholte, Marko Prehm, Xiangbing Zeng, Goran Ungar and Carsten Tschierske ()
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Silvio Poppe: Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Anne Lehmann: Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Alexander Scholte: Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Marko Prehm: Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Xiangbing Zeng: University of Sheffield
Goran Ungar: University of Sheffield
Carsten Tschierske: Institute of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Zeolites represent inorganic solid-state materials with porous structures of fascinating complexity. Recently, significant progress was made by reticular synthesis of related organic solid-state materials, such as metal-organic or covalent organic frameworks. Herein we go a step further and report the first example of a fluid honeycomb mimicking a zeolitic framework. In this unique self-assembled liquid crystalline structure, transverse-lying π-conjugated rod-like molecules form pentagonal channels, encircling larger octagonal channels, a structural motif also found in some zeolites. Additional bundles of coaxial molecules penetrate the centres of the larger channels, unreachable by chains attached to the honeycomb framework. This creates a unique fluid hybrid structure combining positive and negative anisotropies, providing the potential for tuning the directionality of anisotropic optical, electrical and magnetic properties. This work also demonstrates a new approach to complex soft-matter self-assembly, by using frustration between space filling and the entropic penalty of chain extension.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9637

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