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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Synthesis and Exfoliation of Discotic Zirconium Phosphates to Obtain Colloidal Liquid Crystals
Published on: May 25, 2016
Orientational packing of a confined discotic mesogen in the columnar phase
Wenjun Zheng1, Ya-Ting Hu1, Cheng-Yan Chiang1
1Department of Photonics, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Road, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.
Abstract:
The stacking of discotic molecules (hexakis(alkoxy)diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazines) in the columnar phase sandwiched between two flat glass substrates has been studied. The surface free energy of the substrates, measured by means of sessile drop technique, is found to have significant influence on the way that the discotic molecules anchor on the surface, and a steady thermal state of the system is crucial for a homogenous orientation of the discotic columns. On a surface of high free energy, the discotic molecules anchor with their disc-face toward the surface. A decrease in the surface free energy of the substrate causes the discotic columns to tilt away from the normal of the substrate.
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