Double gyroid structures are a class of 3D periodic structures that are composed of two interwoven networks of 3D branched channels. Owing to the unique structural characteristics, they have been applied for creating a variety of functional nanostructured materials. In particular, self-organized double gyroid nanostructures formed by bicontinuous cubic (Cubbi) liquid crystals have been studied for size-selective separation membranes and mass transport materials. However, it is still not easy to intentionally design liquid-crystalline molecules exhibiting Cubbi phases. An explanation on the exhibition mechanisms of Cubbi phases is shown in Figure 1. When liquid-crystalline molecules produce local right- or left-handed helix assembles, these opposite-handed assembles organize into two channel networks of double gyroid structures. This mechanism leads us to envision that the use of chiral building block is an effective approach. In the present study, we have focused on molecular building blocks forming atropisomers as a chiral source. We designed ionic amphiphiles 1n-X (Fig. 2). We found that 1n-X organizes into Cubbi phases forming double gyroid structures. In the poster, the relationships between atropisomerization and self-organization behavior will be discussed.

Formation of double gyroid nanostructures by self-organization of atropisomeric ionic amphiphiles

2019 Fall National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.