Noncovalent Approach to One-Dimensional Ion Conductors: Enhancement of Ionic Conductivities in Nanostructured Columnar Liquid Crystals

Humidity-modulated phase control and nanoscopic transport in supramolecular assemblies

Supramolecular assembly allows for enhanced control of bulk material properties through the fine modulation of intermolecular interactions. We present a comprehensive study of a cross-linkable amphiphilic wedge molecule based on a sulfonated trialkoxybenzene with a sodium counterion that forms liquid crystalline (LC) phases with ionic nanochannel structures. This compound exhibits drastic structural changes as a function of relative humidity (RH). Our combined structural, dynamical, and transport studies reveal deep and novel information on the coupling of water and wedge molecule transport to structural motifs, including the significant influence of domain boundaries within the material. Over a range of RH values, we employ (23)Na solid-state NMR on the counterions to complement detailed structural studies by grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. RH-dependent pulsed-field-gradient (PFG) NMR diffusion studies on both water and the wedge amphiphiles show multiple components, corresponding to species diffusing within LC domains as well as in the domain boundaries that compose 10% of the material. The rich transport and dynamical behaviors described here represent an important window into the world of supramolecular soft materials, carrying implications for optimization of these materials in many venues. Cubic phases present at high RH show fast transport of water (2 × 10(-10) m(2)/s), competitive with that observed in benchmark polymeric ion conductors. Understanding the self-assembly of these supramolecular building blocks shows promise for generating cross-linked membranes with fast ion conduction for applications such as next-generation batteries.

How much do coulombic interactions stabilize a mesophase? Ion pair and non-ionic binary isosteric derivatives of monocarbaborates and carboranes

A comparison of two isosteric, ionic and non-ionic binary systems, provides a measure of coulombic interactions impact on mesophase stability in the absence of other factors.

Cation modules as building blocks forming supramolecular assemblies with planar receptor-anion complexes

Ion-based materials were fabricated through ion pairing of planar receptor-anion complexes and cation modules as negatively and positively charged building blocks, respectively. Anion receptors that could not form soft materials by themselves provided mesophases upon anion binding and subsequent ion pairing with aliphatic cation modules. The mesogenic behaviors were affected by structural modification of both the cation module and the anion receptor. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements suggested the formation of columnar mesophases with contributions from charge-by-charge and charge-segregated arrangements. Flash-photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements further revealed a higher charge-carrier mobility in the assembly with a large contribution from the charge-segregated arrangement than in the charge-by-charge-based assembly.

Luminescent columnar liquid crystals based on tristriazolotriazine

Five discotic molecules comprising a tris[1,2,4]triazolo[1,3,5] triazine core were designed and synthesized to obtain luminescent and charge-transporting columnar liquid crystalline materials. With the exception of one compound containing terminal hydroxyl groups all compounds presented a wide thermal range and stable columnar liquid crystalline phase, characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The phase formation appeared to be associated to some extent with interdigitation of the alkoxy and benzylalkoxy portion, as suggested by the XRD results. All compounds have a strong blue luminescence in solution and solid phase. At the temperature at which the compounds enter in the mesophase the luminescence decreases significantly. This result suggests that entrance into the Col(h) phase is accompanied by a better π-stacking of the peripheral phenyl rings compared to the solid phase, consistent with the intramolecular distances (3.5 Å) observed in the XRD analysis. These compounds based on tristriazolotriazine are quite robust with good optical and thermal properties for application as solid state emitters, and we anticipate that they may provide an interesting alternative to other discotic molecules based on N-heterocycles, which generally present a high-temperature Col(h) phase.

Electro-functional octupolar π-conjugated columnar liquid crystals

A series of propeller-shaped π-conjugated molecules based on 2,4,6-tris(thiophene-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazines has been designed and synthesized to obtain ambipolar charge-transporting liquid-crystalline materials. The 3-fold electron-donating aromatic units are attached to the electron-accepting triazine core, which forms electro-functional octupolar π-conjugated structures. These octupolar molecules self-organize into one-dimensional columnar nanostructures and exhibit ambipolar carrier transport behavior, which has been revealed by time-of-flight measurements. In this approach, electron-donor and acceptor electro-active segments are assembled individually in each column to give one-dimensional nanostructured materials with precisely tuned electronic properties. Their desirable electronic structures responsible for both hole and electron conductions have also been examined by cyclic voltammetry and theoretical calculations. The present results provide a new guideline and versatile approach to the design of ambipolar conductive nanostructured liquid-crystalline materials.

Anion modules: building blocks of supramolecular assemblies by combination with π-conjugated anion receptors

Dipyrrolyldiketone boron complexes, as π-conjugated acyclic anion receptors, act as building subunits of various assemblies through noncovalent interactions in the form of receptor-anion complexes. Instead of, or in addition to, the modification of receptor structures, the introduction of anion modules as building blocks for the assemblies was found to be useful in forming various soft materials. Gallic carboxylate derivatives 3-n (n = 16, 18, 20), as tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts, form receptor-anion-module complexes that can be used to fabricate supramolecular assemblies. Combinations of aliphatic anion modules 3-n and receptors 1a,b along with a TBA cation afforded products with mesophases, which were indicated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. X-ray diffraction measurements of the solid states and mesophases of 1a·3-n·TBA and 1b·3-n·TBA revealed highly ordered structures including lamellar structures, which could be modulated by the lengths of the alkyl chains of the modules. Functional materials exhibiting electrical conductivity were fabricated by using combinations of anionic building blocks that form assemblies by themselves and π-conjugated acyclic receptors.

Lithium-induced supramolecular hydrogel

We describe a novel anisotropic supramolecular gel made of cyclodextrin-dye, in which physical gelation is completed by lithium salt. Rheological experiment reveals the elastic behaviors of the hydrogel, and high ionic conductivity represents a good mobility of ions inside the gel matrix.

Effects of alkyl chain length on properties of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium fluorohydrogenate ionic liquid crystals

A series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium fluorohydrogenate salts (C(x)MIm(FH)(2)F, x=8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18) have been characterized by thermal analysis, polarized optical microscopy, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and anisotropic ionic conductivity measurements. Liquid crystalline mesophases with a smectic A interdigitated bilayer structure are observed from C(10) to C(18), showing a fan-like or focal conic texture. The temperature range of the mesophase increases with the increase in the alkyl chain length (from 10.1 °C for C(10)MIm(FH)(2)F to 123.1 °C for C(18)MIm(FH)(2)F). The distance between the two layers in the smectic structure gradually increases with increasing alkyl chain length and decreases with increasing temperature. Conductivity parallel to the smectic layers is around 10 mS cm(-1) regardless of the alkyl chain length, whereas that perpendicular to the smectic layers decreases with increasing alkyl chain length because of the thicker insulating sheet with the longer alkyl chain.

3D interconnected ionic nano-channels formed in polymer films: self-organization and polymerization of thermotropic bicontinuous cubic liquid crystals

Thermotropic bicontinuous cubic (Cub(bi)) liquid-crystalline (LC) compounds based on a polymerizable ammonium moiety complexed with a lithium salt have been designed to obtain lithium ion-conductive all solid polymeric films having 3D interconnected ionic channels. The monomer shows a Cub(bi) phase from -5 to 19 °C on heating. The complexes retain the ability to form the Cub(bi) LC phase. They also form hexagonal columnar (Col(h)) LC phases at temperatures higher than those of the Cub(bi) phases. The complex of the monomer and LiBF(4) at the molar ratio of 4:1 exhibits the Cub(bi) and Col(h) phases between -6 to 19 °C and 19 to 56 °C, respectively, on heating. The Cub(bi) LC structure formed by the complex has been successfully preserved by in situ photopolymerization through UV irradiation in the presence of a photoinitiator. The resultant nanostructured film is optically transparent and free-standing. The X-ray analysis of the film confirms the preservation of the self-assembled nanostructure. The polymer film with the Cub(bi) LC nanostructure exhibits higher ionic conductivities than the polymer films obtained by photopolymerization of the complex in the Col(h) and isotropic phases. It is found that the 3D interconnected ionic channels derived from the Cub(bi) phase function as efficient ion-conductive pathways.

Thermotropic Ionic Liquid Crystals

The last five years’ achievements in the synthesis and investigation of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals are reviewed. The present review describes the mesomorphic properties displayed by organic, as well as metal-containing ionic mesogens. In addition, a short overview on the ionic polymer and self-assembled liquid crystals is given. Potential and actual applications of ionic mesogens are also discussed.