Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

From Molecules to Materials: Engineering New Ionic Liquid Crystals Through Halogen Bonding
Published on: March 24, 2018
Self-assembly of nonionic surfactants into lyotropic liquid crystals in ethylammonium nitrate, a room-temperature
Abstract:
The stability of a variety of lyotropic liquid crystals formed by a number of polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactants in the room-temperature ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate (EAN) is surveyed and reported. The pattern of self-assembly behaviour and mesophase formation is strikingly similar to that observed in water, even including the existence of a lower consolute boundary or cloud point. The only quantitative difference from water is that longer alkyl chains are necessary to drive the formation of liquid crystalline mesophases in EAN, suggesting that a rich pattern of "solvophobic" self-assembly should exist in this solvent.
More Related Videos
06:16Fabrication of Spherical and Worm-shaped Micellar Nanocrystals by Combining Electrospray, Self-assembly, and Solvent-based Structure Control
Published on: February 11, 2018
13:38Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures
Published on: April 11, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Micelles
Surface Active Agents
The Colloidal State