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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.07037 |
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| _version_ | 1866909487901704192 |
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| author | Haputhanthrige, Nilanthi P. Zhou, Yifan Wei, Jingfan Gao, Min Liu, Tianbo Lavrentovich, Oleg D. |
| author_facet | Haputhanthrige, Nilanthi P. Zhou, Yifan Wei, Jingfan Gao, Min Liu, Tianbo Lavrentovich, Oleg D. |
| contents | Self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules is an important phenomenon attracting a broad range of research. In this work, we study the self-assembly of KTOF4 sphere-rod amphiphilic molecules in mixed water-dioxane solvents. The molecules are of a T-shaped geometry, comprised of a hydrophilic spherical Keggin-type cluster attached by a flexible bridge to the center of a hydrophobic rod-like oligodialkylfluorene (OF), which consists of four OF units. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) uncovers self-assembled spherical structures of KTOF4 in dilute solutions. These spheres are filled with smectic-like layers of KTOF4 separated by layers of the solution. There are two types of layer packings: (i) concentric spheres and (ii) flat layers. The concentric spheres form when the dioxane volume fraction in the solution is 35-50 vol%. The flat layers are formed when the dioxane volume fraction is either below (20 and 30 vol%.) or above (55 and 60 vol%.) the indicated range. The layered structures show no in-plane orientational order and thus resemble thermotropic smectic A liquid crystals and their lyotropic analogs. The layered packings reveal edge and screw dislocations. Evaporation of the solvent produces a bulk birefringent liquid crystal phase with textures resembling the ones of uniaxial nematic liquid crystals. These findings demonstrate that sphere-rod molecules produce a variety of self-assembled structures that are controlled by the solvent properties. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_07037 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Liquid crystalline structures formed by sphere-rod amphiphilic molecules in solvents Haputhanthrige, Nilanthi P. Zhou, Yifan Wei, Jingfan Gao, Min Liu, Tianbo Lavrentovich, Oleg D. Soft Condensed Matter 00 E.1 Self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules is an important phenomenon attracting a broad range of research. In this work, we study the self-assembly of KTOF4 sphere-rod amphiphilic molecules in mixed water-dioxane solvents. The molecules are of a T-shaped geometry, comprised of a hydrophilic spherical Keggin-type cluster attached by a flexible bridge to the center of a hydrophobic rod-like oligodialkylfluorene (OF), which consists of four OF units. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) uncovers self-assembled spherical structures of KTOF4 in dilute solutions. These spheres are filled with smectic-like layers of KTOF4 separated by layers of the solution. There are two types of layer packings: (i) concentric spheres and (ii) flat layers. The concentric spheres form when the dioxane volume fraction in the solution is 35-50 vol%. The flat layers are formed when the dioxane volume fraction is either below (20 and 30 vol%.) or above (55 and 60 vol%.) the indicated range. The layered structures show no in-plane orientational order and thus resemble thermotropic smectic A liquid crystals and their lyotropic analogs. The layered packings reveal edge and screw dislocations. Evaporation of the solvent produces a bulk birefringent liquid crystal phase with textures resembling the ones of uniaxial nematic liquid crystals. These findings demonstrate that sphere-rod molecules produce a variety of self-assembled structures that are controlled by the solvent properties. |
| title | Liquid crystalline structures formed by sphere-rod amphiphilic molecules in solvents |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter 00 E.1 |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.07037 |