Bicontinuous Gyroid Phase of a Water-Swollen Wedge-Shaped Amphiphile: Studies with In-Situ Grazing-Incidence X-ray Scattering and Atomic Force Microscopy.

Kseniia N Grafskaia,Diego Pontoni,Denis V Anokhin,Denis S Kotlyarskiy,Xiaomin Zhu,Dmitry V Vashurkin,Dimitri A Ivanov,Azaliia F Akhkiamova

doi:10.3390/ma14112892

Abstract

We report on formation of a bicontinuous double gyroid phase by a wedge-shaped amphiphilic mesogen, pyridinium 4′-[3″,4″,5″-tris-(octyloxy)benzoyloxy]azobenzene-4-sulfonate. It is found that this compound can self-organize in zeolite-like structures adaptive to environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, solvent vapors). Depending on the type of the phase, the structure contains 1D, 2D, or 3D networks of nanometer-sized ion channels. Of particular interest are bicontinuous phases, such as the double gyroid phase, as they hold promise for applications in separation and energy. Specially designed environmental cells compatible with grazing-incidence X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy enable simultaneous measurements of structural parameters/morphology during vapor-annealing treatment at different temperatures. Such in-situ approach allows finding the environmental conditions at which the double gyroid phase can be formed and provide insights on the supramolecular structure of thin films at different spatial levels.

Highlights

Molecular self-assembly is a spontaneous process during which the constitutive elements self-organize under action of non-covalent bonding forces [1,2,3]
Wedge-shaped amphiphiles can self-assemble into a remarkable range of lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC)
We have reported on formation of well-orgaSynchrotron Grazing-Incidence X-ray scattering (GISAXS) experiments in combination nized cubic phase theupon films preparation, of wedge-shaped salts withsolvent linear alkylbechains during swellrange,in and, the methanol replaced by water withtemperature computer simulation reveal development of water channels of can ca. 2 nm in diameter ing in methanol

Summary

Introduction

Molecular self-assembly is a spontaneous process during which the constitutive elements self-organize under action of non-covalent bonding forces [1,2,3]. Wedge-shaped amphiphiles can self-assemble into a remarkable range of lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC). Due to the unique structures of non-lamellar LC mesophases, they have attracted significant interest over the past few decades for their applications in such areas as drug delivery [8,9], membrane protein crystallization [10,11], energy conversion and storage, gas storage, chemical sensing, and others [12,13]. Nanoporous membranes are already widely used in various applications, like chemical separation and purification, fuel conversion, and ecology [14]. They are perspective for classical chemical production and for design of new sensors, electronics, medicine, and, especially, for fuel cells [15]

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Conclusion