Controlling phase and rheological behaviours of hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline templates for nanostructural administration and retention

• Introducing polymerizable monomers into a binary hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) template is a straightforward way for retaining the nanostructure but will decrease attractive intra-and inter aggregate interactions. It is therefore crucial to understand the interfacial interactions at nanoscale after introducing the monomers but prior to polymerization. Herein, active species, poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), were introduced into hexagonal LLC of dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide and water to explore the structural variables, dimensional stabil-ity, and dynamic property. At a proper volume ratio of PEGDA/HEMA (1/4), the system presents excellent homogeneity with a higher dimensional stability and lower dynamic property from rheological assess-ments, thereby achieving robust, free-standing, and transparent membranes after photo -polymerization. The unique property of the system also lies in the much lower order-disorder transition temperature (45 degrees C) that facilitates the reorientation of mesochannels. They are in contrast inaccessible for the ternary system only with PEGDA, though the nanostructure for both systems could be retained. An insight into subtle variations in these parameters allows us to prepare a polymerizable template possess-ing higher dimensional stability and suitable flexibility via molecular design, thereby enabling simulta-neous structural alignment and retention for the development of functional nanomaterials. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Fysikalisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Physical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Hexagonal lyotropic liquid crystalline

Rheological behaviors

Phase behaviors

Dimensional stability

Nanostructure

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