Nano-Segregation and Directed Self-Assembly in the Formation of Functional Liquid Crystals

It is often a question that is asked: How can you predict from the molecular architecture of a material the structure of the condensed phases it forms, and what properties would you expect the phase to exhibit? For liquid crystals, knowing how to design materials for particular applications requires precision molecular engineering. In this article we examine how molecular topology and interactions influence phase formation and report on material design.