Lyo-mesophases from self-assembled disk-shaped molecules

We report the self-assembly of disk-shaped molecules that from lyotropic ne matic and cholesteric phases in triphenylene-based thermotropic discotic li quid crystalline compounds. A discotic nematic monomer, which exhibits nema tic melt at 103 degreesC and isotropization temperature at 180 degreesC, sh owed room-temperature nematic phase when dissolved in suitable organic solv ents at an appropriate concentration. In case of a discotic cholesteric mon omer, whose clearing temperature is 190 degreesC, showed cholesteric phase at room temperature cholesteric lyo-mesophase 55 wt% in xylene. The lyo-mes ophases of discotic materials, when filled in LC cells, were electrohydrody namically switchable. We obtained discotic cholesteric films with selective reflected color from an aligned and polymerized cholesteric lyo-discotic s ystem. The temperature dependence of reflection of cholesteric lyo-discotic system was also determined.