Ion-Conductive Liquid Crystalline Chemical Gels: Formation of Hierarchical Phase-Segregated Structures and Functionalization

Abstract

Anisotropically ion-conductive liquid crystalline (LC) chemical gels have been prepared by photopolymerization for the complexes of ion-conductive liquid crystals, lithium salts and polymerizable compounds. The X-ray diffraction measurements and the field-emission scanning electron micrographs revealed that the LC gels have highly oriented hierarchical phase-segregated structures in nano- and micrometer levels. These organized LC gels have potentials for the application as a new type of ion-active materials. The structural analysis and anisotropic ionic conductivities are discussed.