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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Liquid-crystalline calcium carbonate: biomimetic synthesis and alignment of nanorod calcite
Masanari Nakayama1, Satoshi Kajiyama1, Tatsuya Nishimura1
1Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology , School of Engineering , The University of Tokyo , Hongo, Bunkyo-ku , Tokyo 113-8656 , Japan .
Abstract:
Liquid-crystalline CaCO3 has been prepared for the first time. The nanorods of CaCO3 calcite are obtained by bio-inspired crystallization through aqueous colloidal precursors of amorphous CaCO3 stabilized by poly(acrylic acid). The synthesized calcite nanocrystals have well-tuned morphologies that are preferable for formation of liquid-crystalline phases in concentrated aqueous colloidal solution. The one-dimensional alignment of calcite crystals is achieved by mechanical shearing of the aqueous colloidal solution showing liquid-crystalline phases. These CaCO3-based liquid crystals formed by a self-organization process in mild conditions may have great potential for use as environmentally friendly materials.
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