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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
Published on: May 20, 2018
A New Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline System: Oligo(ethylene oxide) Surfactants with [M(H2 O)n ]Xm Transition Metal
1Bilkent University Department of Chemistry 06533, Ankara (Turkey) Fax: (+90) 312-290-4579.
Abstract:
Coordinated water molecules induce the aggregation and self-assembly of the lyotropic liquid crystalline phase formed from non-ionic surfactants Cn H2n+1 (CH2 CH2 O)m OH and transition metal aqua complexes ([Ni(H2 O)6 ](NO3 )2 , [Co(H2 O)6 ](NO3 )2 , [Zn(H2 O)6 ](NO3 )2 , [Cd(H2 O)4 ](NO3 )2 , and [Co(H2 O)6 ]Cl2 ) into hexagonal and/or cubic structures. While the NiII and CoII complexes undergo recrystallization and phase separation at high complex concentrations, the ZnII and CdII complexes form cubic phases above metal/surfactant molar ratios of 3.2/1 at room temperature.
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