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• Hu, Y
• Chiang, C
• Ong, C
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Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2010, 11(3), 943-955; doi:10.3390/ijms11030943

Article

Orientational Packing of a Confined Discotic Mesogen in the Columnar Phase

Wenjun Zheng ^1,* , Ya-Ting Hu ¹ , Cheng-Yan Chiang ¹  and Chi Wi Ong ²

¹ Department of Photonics, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Road, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan ² Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Road, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 24 January 2010; in revised form: 23 February 2010 / Accepted: 5 March 2010 / Published: 8 March 2010

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Crystals)

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Abstract: The stacking of discotic molecules (hexakis(alkoxy)diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2’,3’-c]phenazines) in the columnar phase sandwiched between two flat glass substrates has been studied. The surface free energy of the substrates, measured by means of sessile drop technique, is found to have significant influence on the way that the discotic molecules anchor on the surface, and a steady thermal state of the system is crucial for a homogenous orientation of the discotic columns. On a surface of high free energy, the discotic molecules anchor with their disc-face toward the surface. A decrease in the surface free energy of the substrate causes the discotic columns to tilt away from the normal of the substrate.

Keywords: discotic liquid crystal; columnar phase; self-assembly; hexaazatriphenylene

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