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Unique Supramolecular Liquid-Crystal Phases with Different Two-Dimensional Crystal Layers.
Yi Hu1, Kuan-Yi Wu2, Tiantian Zhu1
1College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 17, 2018
Summary
Novel fullerene-based materials form liquid crystals (LCs) with unique 2D crystal structures. These supramolecular liquid crystals exhibit high electron mobility, offering potential for advanced optoelectronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Organic Electronics
Background:
- Azobenzene-containing [60]fullerene dyads are investigated for their self-assembly properties.
- Supramolecular liquid crystals (LCs) offer unique material characteristics.
- Two-dimensional (2D) crystals provide a platform for ordered molecular arrangements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel tetrablock-mimic azobenzene-fullerene dyads.
- To investigate the formation of supramolecular liquid crystals from these dyads.
- To explore the relationship between fullerene packing in 2D crystals and LC phase behavior.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of azobenzene-fullerene dyads.
- Formation of phase-segregated 2D crystals.
- Characterization of supramolecular liquid crystal phases using various techniques.
- Measurement of electron mobility.
Main Results:
- Tetrablock-mimic azobenzene-fullerene dyads self-assemble into supramolecular liquid crystals.
- Unique double-, triple-, and quadruple-layer fullerene packing in 2D crystals dictates distinct smectic LC phases.
- Novel LC phase transitions were observed correlating with changes in fullerene layer number.
- Materials demonstrated high electron mobility (10^-3 cm^2 V^-1 s^-1) despite low fullerene content.
Conclusions:
- A novel method for manipulating 2D crystal layer thickness was developed.
- The combination of LC properties and 2D crystal structures in fullerene materials is promising.
- These materials hold significant potential for applications in optoelectronic devices.
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