Chromonic nematic liquid crystals in a room-temperature ionic liquid†
Abstract
Planar multiaromatic molecules hierarchically and selectively arrange into nematic chromonic liquid crystals in the room temperature ionic liquid 2-hydroxyethylammonium formate. In a proof of concept, these liquid crystals were used as reaction media to produce mesostructured silica materials under mild biomimetic conditions. Several other applications are envisaged.