Discotic liquid crystals of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7])-functionalised Laponite clays. (17th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Peicheng; Lan, Yang; Dai, Linjie; O'Neill, Thomas; Stoev, Iliya; Cao, Tianyang; Eiser, Erika
• Is Part Of: Molecular physics. Volume 116:Number 21/22(2018)
• Page Start: 2883
• Page End: 2891
• Publication Date: 2018-11-17
• Subjects: Clays -- liquid crystals -- colloidal gel -- cucurbit[n]uril; Molecules -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; Molécules -- Périodiques; Chimie physique et théorique -- Périodiques; 539.6.05
• DOI: 10.1080/00268976.2018.1508778
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-8976

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Here we demonstrate that in the presence of the small, barrel-shaped molecule cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) Laponite clay particles undergo a phase transition into a birefringent gel with lamellar structure and a fluid, Laponite-poor aqueous solution. We employ various characterisation methods and polarised light microscopy to study this transition and the system's structural and optical properties. Furthermore, when dried completely we obtain a layered, transparent composite film, still retaining some liquid-crystalline structure that can be rehydrated reversibly. We argue that this new system may be a model system for anisotropic patchy particles. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: