Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures
Published on: April 11, 2017
CO₂ in Lyotropic Liquid Crystals: Monoethanolamine-Facilitated Uptake and Swelling
Sandra Rodríguez-Fabià1, Jens Norrman2, Johan Sjöblom3
1Ugelstad Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), 7491 Trondheim, Norway. sandra.r.fabia@ntnu.no.
Abstract:
Ternary systems consisting of amphiphilic block copolymers/water/monoethanolamine (MEA) have been studied as potential solvents for carbon capture and storage (CCS). The phase behavior of two poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers with average compositions (EO)₈(PO)47(EO)₈ (L92) and (EO)₃(PO)50(EO)₃ (L81) have been investigated by cross-polarized visual observation and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The respective ternary phase diagrams have been studied for systems containing MEA and the equivalent systems containing CO₂-loaded MEA. The presence of MEA loaded with CO₂ hinders self-association, preventing the formation of liquid crystalline phases. One-phase liquid crystalline regions were found at low MEA concentrations (below 20 wt %) in L92. In the case of L81, only one one-phase region consisting of coexisting lamellar and disordered aggregates was found at 5 wt % MEA. The swelling of the liquid crystalline phases with MEA was investigated along designated dilution lines. The lattice parameters of L92 liquid crystals decrease upon addition of MEA, whereas L81 aggregates show the opposite behavior.
Related Concept Videos
Facilitated Transport
Facilitated Transport
Social Facilitation
Facilitated Diffusion
In this process, substrates such as organic compounds and ions interact with a transporter on one side, triggering conformational changes in proteins that enable...
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...

