On the way to columnar liquid quasi crystals : X-shaped bolapolyphiles with branched side chains

Abstract

Liquid crystalline phases combine long-range orientational order with molecular mobility. Few liquid crystals (LCs) exhibit quasiperiodic translational symmetry, underscoring the need to understand such configurations for complex material architectures. This thesis explores the design, synthesis, and self-assembly of X-shaped bolapolyphiles as frameworks for inducing liquid quasicrystalline phases. Integrating symmetry-group analysis with tailored synthetic strategies, molecular structures were tuned near the triangle–square transition to promote quasiperiodic order. Modularity in design enabled precise control over side chain volume, spacer length, and functional modifications. Experimental studies (POM, DSC, SAXS) revealed LC phases with distinct symmetries, including potential liquid quasicrystalline and approximant structures. This work advances fundamental insights and offers a systematic pathway for the rational design of soft materials with tailored quasiperiodic architectures.