Constituent Isomerism-Induced Quasicrystal and Frank-Kasper sigma Superlattices Based on Nanosized Shape Amphiphiles

Naturally, subtle variations in the chemical structures of constituent molecules may significantly affect their multiscale spatial arrangements, properties, and functions. Deceptively simple spherical assemblies supply an ideal platform to investigate how subtle chemical differences affect hierarchically assembled structures. Here, the authors report two sets of nanosized shape amphiphiles, which were constructed by a triphenylene core and six polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane cages peripherally grafted through linkers. The slight differences in these samples are merely several methylene units in their linkers, including several pairs of constituent isomers. These nanosized shape amphiphiles self-assemble into a variety of unconventional spherical packing structures, which include the FrankKasper s phase and dodecagonal quasicrystal. Several types of unconventional phase transitions were systematically investigated. The authors alternated the conventional columnar phases of discotic molecules to unconventional spherical packing phases. These unconventional structures may shed light into discovering discotic mesogens-based materials with new properties and functions. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

Subtle chemical differences in constituent molecules can significantly affect their spatial arrangements, properties, and functions, as shown in this study on nanosized shape amphiphiles; the authors report two sets of nanosized shape amphiphiles with slight differences in linkers that self-assemble into unconventional spherical packing structures.