SELF-ASSEMBLY OF AN IONIC LIQUID AND A HYDROXYL-TERMINATED LIQUID CRYSTAL: ANISOTROPIC ION CONDUCTION IN LAYERED NANOSTRUCTURES

Abstract

Anisotropic ion-conductive materials have been prepared by self-assembly of a conventional ionic liquid and a hydroxyl-terminated liquid crystal. These assemblies form phase-segregated layered structures on the nanometer scale. Anisotropic ionic conductivities along the direction parallel and perpendicular to the layer have been successfully measured for the sample forming oriented monodomains. The ionic conductivity parallel to the layer (σ_i//) is higher than that perpendicular to the layer (σ_i⊥). The maximal anisotropy (σ_i///σ_i⊥) is 2.6 × 10³ at 37°C in the smectic B phase.

Keywords:

• anisotropic ion conduction
• ionic liquids
• layered nanostructures
• liquid crystals
• self-assembly