o-Phenylene octamers as surface modifiers for homeotropic columnar ordering of discotic liquid crystals

Large-area homeotropic columnar ordering of π-conjugated discotic liquid crystals (LCs) is crucial for certain device applications but generally hard to achieve. Here we report polymeric o-phenylene octamer poly-1 and its monomer 1 as the first surface modifiers for homeotropic columnar order of a variety of discotic LCs up to a macroscopic length scale. Their octameric o-phenylene parts are known to fold helically into a cylinder that is reminiscent of a π-stacked column of discotic LCs. Through-view X-ray diffraction patterns of 1 suggested that this molecule adheres to the glass substrate and directs its cylindrical axis perpendicular to the glass surface. This "face-on" orientation likely nucleates the homeotropic columnar order of discotic LC materials.