Mirror symmetry breaking by mixing of equimolar amounts of two gyroid phase-forming achiral molecules

Abstract

Mirror symmetry breaking was observed by mixing of equimolar amounts of two gyroid phase-forming achiral molecules, one having a short and the other with a long tail. This fact indicates the importance of a critical chain length for the appearance of the chiral bicontinuous cubic (Cub_bi) phase. It also demonstrates that the molecular-level mobility is closely connected to the formation and stabilisation of those Cub_bi phases.