Device applications of charge transport in discotic liquid crystals

We discuss some of the unique structural and electronic properties of disco tic liquid crystals, particularly the nature of the 'band structure', and o f charge injection from metal electrodes. Attempts have been made to use co nducting discotic liquid crystals in electroluminescent devices and in gas sensors. The latter are created by spin-coating a thin film of discotic liq uid crystals onto an array of interdigitated electrodes. We discuss the tem perature dependence of the conductivity of these new systems, analyse the m echanism of charge diffusion and the effect of adsorbed gases.