Inorganic lyotropic liquid crystals

Abstract

A range of different mineral-based are introduced, mainly distinguishing between rod-like and plate-like systems. Historically, vanadium pentoxide appears to be the first rod-like, inorganic particle system to have been studies with respect to liquid crystalline behaviour, already about a century ago. In the same rod-like particle category as vanadium pentoxide, also Aluminium oxyhydroxide, Lithium molybdenoselenite, as well as different forms of iron oxyhydroxide, and imogolite can be found. These are discussed with respect to liquid crystalline behaviour by providing the general structures and scanning microscopic images of their particle shape, together with textures and x-ray diffraction experiments. In the plate-like category a range of different clays like Montmorillonites like bentonite and laponite are introduced. Gibbsite is discussed in detail and further plate-like particle systems are demonstrated. The chapter is finalised by a discussion of mixtures between rods and plates.