Exotic Phases of Banana-Shaped Molecules @ University of Colorado
July 7, 2010
:
L. E. Hough, H. T. Jung, D. Krüerke, M. S. Heberling, M. Nakata, C. D. Jones, D. Chen, D. R. Link, J. Zasadzinski, G. Heppke, J. P. Rabe, W. Stocker, E. Körblova, D. M. Walba, M. A. Glaser, and N. A. Clark
Banana shaped molecules, like the one shown in the figure, like to pack into layers but when they do, they have a hard time making flat ones. Their layers have a strong tendency to buckle up into saddles, and when the saddles try to fill space interesting things happen. If the layers are crystal-like they can only form the twisted nanofilaments in the top of the image. If the layers are fluid, like in a liquid crystal, then they form the "plumbers nightmare" of nested tubes and connections, the "sponge phase",at the bottom. These exotic phases show how even a simple molecular modification, like putting a bend in a molecule, can make big changes in its material properties.
Related publication(s):
- Science 24 July 2009 325: 456-460 [DOI: 10.1126/science.1170027]
