2020 Volume 45 Issue 5 Pages 200-205
Real mesogenic (liquid–crystal exhibiting) molecules often possess a flexible alkyl chain(s) in addition to a rigid and anisotropic core, which most abstract theories of liquid crystals treat as an essential feature. This short account describes the thermodynamic analyses of the state of chains in real liquid crystals and the derived conclusions concerning their active and decisive role and aggregation structures from the analyses’ results. Encountered is a startling resemblance of layered thermotropic liquid crystals and surfactant bilayer membranes.