New electroactive supramolecular fibers have been formed by self-assembly of the derivatives of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) in liquid crystals. These derivatives are designed and prepared by introducing the TTF moiety to the scaffold derived from amino acids such as L-isoleucine whose derivatives function as organogelators. These TTF-based gelators form stable fibrous aggregates in liquid crystals. These fibers are the first example of hydrogen-bonded one-dimensional aggregates having electroactive moieties whose electrical conductivities were measured after doping. Their electronic states have also been characterized by spectroscopic methods. Unidirectionally aligned fibers are formed in the oriented liquid crystal solvents on the rubbed polyimide surface for further functionalization of the fibers.

Batesian mimics that show similar coloration to unpalatable models gain a fitness advantage of reduced predation. Beyond physical similarity, mimics often exhibit behaviour similar to their models, further enhancing their protection against predation by mimicking not only the model's physical appearance but also activity. In butterflies, there is a strong correlation between palatability and flight velocity, but there is only weak correlation between palatability and flight path. Little is known about how Batesian mimics fly. Here, we explored the flight behaviour of four butterfly species/morphs: unpalatable model Pachliopta aristolochiae, mimetic and non-mimetic females of female-limited mimic Papilio polytes, and palatable control Papilio xuthus. We demonstrated that the directional change (DC) generated by wingbeats and the standard deviation of directional change (SDDC) of mimetic females and their models were smaller than those of non-mimetic females and palatable controls. Furthermore, we found no significant difference in flight velocity among all species/morphs. By showing that DC and SDDC of mimetic females resemble those of models, we provide the first evidence for the existence of behavioural mimicry in flight path by a Batesian mimic butterfly.

Physical gelation of liquid crystals with low molecular weight gelators leads to the formation of a new class of anisotropic gels that have great potentials for optical, electrical, and photofunctional materials. The liquid crystalline (LC) physical gels are microphase-separated anisotropic composites consisting of liquid crystals and self-assembled solid fibers. For these materials, the isotropic-anisotropic transitions due to liquid crystals and the sol-gel transitions due to gelators occur reversibly and independently. The thermal, optical, and electrical properties of the LC gels are tuned by the selection and combination of the components, which determine the microphase-separated structures. LC gels based on room temperature nematic liquid crystals show electro-optical switching on twisted nematic and light scattering modes. The electro-optical properties can be improved in the presence of fiber additives. Discotic liquid crystals that function as hole transport materials have been used as LC components of anisotropic gels. The discotic gels exhibit hole mobilities higher than those of the liquid crystal alone. Chemical modification of gelators with functional moieties is another versatile approach for functionalization of LC gels. Hydrogen-bonded gelators with photoswitchable azobenzene moieties have been developed and complexed with liquid crystals. The resultant photoresponsive LC gels show light-induced structural changes, which are applicable to rewritable information recording.

In a Batesian mimic butterfly Papilio polytes, mimetic females resemble an unpalatable model, Pachliopta aristolochiae, but exhibit a different color pattern from nonmimetic females and males. In particular, the pale-yellow region on hind wings, which correspondingly sends important putative signals for mimicry and mate preference, is different in shape and chemical features between nonmimetic and mimetic morphs. Recently, we found that mimetic-type doublesex [dsx (H)] causes mimetic traits; however, the control of dimorphic pale-yellow colors remains unclear. Here, we revealed that dsx (H) switched the pale-yellow colors from UV-excited fluorescent type (nonmimetic) to UV-reflecting type (mimetic), by repressing the papiliochrome II synthesis genes and nanostructural changes in wing scales. Photoreceptor reactivities showed that some birds and butterflies could effectively recognize mimetic and nonmimetic pale-yellow colors, suggesting that a genetic switch in the UV response of pale-yellow colors may play essential roles in establishing the dimorphic female-limited Batesian mimicry.