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” (Pmm, SP), the double gyroid (Iad, DG) and the single diamond network phase (Fdm, SD) with the DG as an intermediate phase at the SP to SD transition.