A series of three liquid crystalline cubic phases with an alternating sequence of single- and double-network structures

Abstract

Bolapolyphiles, built of a π-conjugated bistolane core with polar glycerol groups at each end and two linear alkyl side-chains in lateral positions form a series of three different cubic network phases upon side-chain elongation, the single network “Plumber's nightmare” (Pm[3 with combining macron]m, SP), the double gyroid (Ia[3 with combining macron]d, DG) and the single diamond network phase (Fd[3 with combining macron]m, SD) with the DG as an intermediate phase at the SP to SD transition.