The prehistory of discotic mesophases – a personal account of the study of the mesophase of diisobutylsilane diol

Abstract

This is an account of the study of the strange little mesogen, diisobutylsilane diol, at Leeds in the 1970s and the role which George Gray played in the story. Even in those early days George imposed a quiet authority on the subject. In both Britain and abroad, people listened to him and valued his opinions and judgment. He steadily assumed the elder statesman role in the British liquid crystal world. He was always accessible and ready to help people like me who were not in his own research group.