Investigating the Cusp between the nano- and macro-sciences in supermolecular liquid-crystalline twist-bend nematogens

Abstract

In this article we report the first known linear liquid-crystalline hexamer and in doing so demonstrate that higher oligomers and main chain polymers, with chemical structures based upon dimers and bimesogens, can exhibit the topical twist-bend ‘nematic’ mesophase. In doing so we find that there is continuation of properties and structures across the spectrum from dimer to polymer and possibly to macroscale objects such as helical flagella. This finding highlights the cross over from nanoscience based mainly on electrostatics and other non-covalent interactions to macroscience based mainly on molecular topology, density of packing, and minimisation of the free energy.