Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 7
Synthesis and Alignment of
Nanostructured Materials
Using Liquid Crystals
IDIT AMAR-YULI, ABRAHAM ASERIN, and NISSIM GARTI
Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Abstract
Liquid crystal (LC) science and technology have made important contributions to
nanoscience and nanotechnology in areas such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery,
and in high-tech devices. The major nanotechnology contribution is their capability to
provide new synthetic procedures, self-assembly, and alignment of nanoscale materials
with controlled uniform size, shape, and dimensionality. The self-assembly of the liquid
crystalline systems, particularly the lyotropic LC type, enables the integration of lipo-
philic and hydrophilic reagents that meet to react at the interface. Therefore the reac-
tion and the products properties are governed by the host liquid crystalline medium
and by the external conditions (e.g., light, heat, chemical environment, and electric and
magnetic fi eld), which directly affect the LC hosting system.
This chapter attempts to give an overview of current research in the fi elds of syn-
thesis, self-assembly, and alignment of nanomaterials using mainly lyotropic LCs and
partially thermotropic LCs as direct and reverse templates. In the near future, liquid
crystals are expected to play a prevalent role in nanoscience and nanotechnology and
can potentially be used as new functional materials for electron, ion, molecular trans-
porting, sensory, catalytic, optical, and bioactive materials.
7.1
Introduction
194
7.2
Nanoparticle Synthesis — Liquid Crystalline Phases Perform as Templates
197
7.2.1
LC Surfactant Assembly as Directing Agent
197
7.2.2
LC Structures as Direct Templates and Reverse Templates
199
7.3
Conclusions
213
References
214
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