Chiral Isotropic Liquids from Achiral Molecules

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Science (Washington, D.C.)

OSTI ID:1041971

Hough, L; Spannuth, M; Nakata, M; Coleman, D; Jones, C; Dantlgraber, G; Tschierske, C; Watanabe, J; Clark, N

A variety of simple bent-core molecules exhibit smectic liquid crystal phases of planar fluid layers that are spontaneously both polar and chiral in the absence of crystalline order. We found that because of intralayer structural mismatch, such layers are also only marginally stable against spontaneous saddle splay deformation, which is incompatible with long-range order. This results in macroscopically isotropic fluids that possess only short-range orientational and positional order, in which the only macroscopically broken symmetry is chirality - even though the phases are formed from achiral molecules. Their conglomerate domains exhibit optical rotatory powers comparable to the highest ever found for isotropic fluids of chiral molecules.

• Research Organization: BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY (BNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1041971
• Report Number(s): BNL--97649-2012-JA
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.) Journal Issue: 5939 Vol. 325; ISSN SCIEAS; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
CHIRALITY
DEFORMATION
ENANTIOMORPHS
LIQUID CRYSTALS
RACEMATES
SYMMETRY