A periodic dodecagonal supertiling by self-assembly of star-shaped molecules in the liquid crystalline state.

ABSTRACT: Molecular tessellations are known in solid state systems and their formation is often induced or supported by a periodic surface lattice. Here we discover a complex tessellation on the 10 nm length scale, spontaneously formed in the highly dynamic liquid crystalline state. It is composed of overlapping dodecagonal supertiles combining prismatic cells with triangular and square cross sections. This complex honeycomb occurs between a triangular honeycomb at high and a square at low temperature, being opposite to the sequence expected for a thermal expansion of the side chains in the prismatic cells. Formation of the supertiles is supported by the segregation of alkyl chains with different length. The emergent behaviour of this complex soft matter structure is demonstrated, and intriguing con

SUBMITTER: Poppe M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9814142 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature