3D Continuous Water Nanosheet as a Gyroid Minimal Surface Formed by Bicontinuous Cubic Liquid-Crystalline Zwitterions

Co-organization of amphiphilic zwitterions and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide led to the formation of bicontinuous cubic liquid-crystalline structures having 3D continuous hydrophilic gyroid minimal surface. The gyroid surface, incorporating a small amount of water, provided extremely thin but macroscopically continuous water nanosheet with a thickness of approximately 5 angstrom. The water nanosheet functioned as alignment free proton conduction pathway.