Nanoparticles in the supramolecular order of discotic liquid crystals

Abstract

This article primarily summarises our work, presented at the 24th International Liquid Crystals Conference in Mainz, on the dispersion of various functionalised nanoparticles such as gold nanoparticles, cadmium selenide quantum dots, single-wall carbon nanotubes and gold nanorods in the supramolecular order of columnar mesophases of discotic liquid crystals (DLCs). Dispersion of such nanomaterials in small concentration has negligible effect on the mesomorphic properties of the DLCs but improves the physical properties like conductivity of the system significantly. Nanoparticles embedded discotic nanoribbons can be prepared via simple solution processing. Such nanocomposites may emerge as advanced semiconducting materials for many device applications.