Directing Self-Organized Columnar Nanostructures of Discotic Liquid Crystals for Device Applications

Abstract

The columnar nanostructures of discotic liquid crystals are fascinating supramolecular systems with promising electronic and optoelectronic properties. Due to their remarkable performance in organic field effect transistors and organic photovoltaic devices, they have been regarded as a new generation of soft organic semiconductors. However, in order to realize the full potential of these intriguing materials, the discotic molecules need to be suitably oriented in the device structures directed by different stimuli. The devices fabricated with oriented materials have been demonstrated to perform better than using non-oriented materials. Over the years, different techniques have been developed to direct the appropriate alignment of the columnar phase of discotic liquid crystals on and in-between substrates. This chapter discusses the different methods used for the alignment control of discotic columnar phases parallel (planar) and perpendicular (homeotropic) to the substrates up to a macroscopic length scale.