Playing with nanosegregation in discotic crown ethers: from molecular design to OFETs, nanofibers and luminescent materials. Issue 3 (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Laschat, Sabine; Baro, Angelika; Wöhrle, Tobias; Kirres, Jochen
• Is Part Of: Liquid crystals today. Volume 25:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 60
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: Liquid crystals -- discotic -- columnar -- crown ether -- supramolecular chemistry; Liquid crystals -- Periodicals; 530.42905
• DOI: 10.1080/1358314X.2016.1206286
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1358-314X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Discotic liquid crystals are promising materials for electronic device applications. Combining extended π-systems with crown ethers may further open access to functional supramolecular hybrid materials. In the present publication, we briefly summarise recent literature developments and focus in a second part on our work in the field of discotic crown ethers. The crown ether derivatives are conveniently accessible by convergent syntheses which allow a high degree of variation with respect to side chains, mesogenic unit, size and symmetry of the crown core, metal complexation and counterion. This set of compounds provides a basis for systematic structure–property relationship investigations. Numerous experimental studies identified factors being crucial for mesophase stabilisation and geometry and furthermore led to novel room-temperature crown ether mesogens. The latter were obtained by congestion of the mesogenic units and even introduction of peripheral δ-methyl branched side chains. The formation of molybdenum clustomesogens and their application as luminescent hybrid materials is also described.