Highly branched bolapolyphilic liquid crystals with a cubic A15 network at the triangle-square transition

Abstract

Rod-like bolapolyphiles with highly branched carbosilane-based side-chains self-assemble into several honeycomb structures if the oligo(p-phenylene ethynylene) core is polyfluorinated, whereas for the non-fluorinated series an A15 type cubic network of rod-bundles was observed instead, suggesting a brand new pathway for the transition between triangular and square honeycomb phases.