Micrometric Spherical Confinement of a Luminescent Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Gel

Micro-confinement of a filamentous hydrogel has been obtained in a fluid matrix. Microspheres are prepared emulsifying a one-component luminescent lyotropic liquid crystal gel based on an Ir(III) complex in an immiscible polymeric matrix. The distribution of filaments inside microspheres, as a function of the Ir(III) complex concentration in water, and their degree of entanglement changes the interface and viscoelastic properties. By combining lyotropic liquid crystal gels and emulsions, this study introduces a new soft hybrid system and offers new possibilities of exploring functional water-based liquid crystalline materials.