西安交通大学刘峰团队报道了螺旋-金刚石过渡过程中具有多结几何结构的网络相。相关研究成果发表在2023年1月5日出版的《美国化学会杂志》。

报道了一种通过两个非立方中间相，一个正交的Fmm（O69）相和一个六边形的P63/m（H176）相，从双金刚石过渡到双旋立方相的新的相序列，该相序列由一个具有粘性甘油末端的线性棒状双甲苯烷核和两个分支中心和两个线性外周侧链组成。这些液晶（LC）相代表了一类新的单连续网络相的成员，由具有极性球体的纵向棒束作为连接点形成，并且烷基链围绕它们形成连续体。

与之前已知的双连续立方网络不同，它们将不同角度的不同结点组合在一个共同的结构中，其中一个甚至代表三重网络，而不是通常发现的双网络。这为具有增强的结构复杂性的软网络相的设计提供了新的视角，激发了对新超分子网络、纳米粒子阵列和光子带隙材料的研究。

附：英文原文

Title: Network Phases with Multiple-Junction Geometries at the Gyroid–Diamond Transition

Author: Xiaoqian Cai, Sebastian Hauche, Silvio Poppe, Yu Cao, Lei Zhang, Chang Huang, Carsten Tschierske, Feng Liu

Issue&Volume: January 5, 2023

Abstract: A novel phase sequence for the transition from the double diamond to the double gyroid cubic phases via two non-cubic intermediate phases, an orthorhombic Fmmm (O69) phase and a hexagonal P63/m (H176) phase, is reported for specifically designed bolapolyphiles composed of a linear rod-like bistolane core with sticky glycerol ends and two branched central and two linear peripheral side chains. These liquid crystalline (LC) phases represent members of a new class of unicontinuous network phases, formed by longitudinal rod bundles with polar spheres acting as junctions and the alkyl chains forming the continuum around them. In contrast to previously known bicontinuous cubic networks, they combine different junctions with different angles in a common structure, and one of them even represents a triple network instead of the usually found double networks. This provides new perspectives for the design of soft network phases with enhanced structural complexity, inspiring the search for new supramolecular networks, nano-particle arrays, and photonic band-gap materials.

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c10462

Source: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.2c10462