Hexagonal columnar liquid-crystalline phase from a rod-coil molecule

Abstract

Liquid-crystalline behaviour of rod-coil molecules is normally associated with the formation of calamitic mesophases; by increasing the volume fraction of coil segments via substitution of poly(propylene oxide) with degree of polymerization of 12 to an elongated rod, the rod-like mesogen can be assembled into cylindrical micelles, showing a hexagonal columnar mesophase.