Liquid crystals of polyelectrolyte networks - art. no. 061705

The Onsager theory of nematic liquid crystals is extended to rigid polyelec trolytes cross-linked by polyvalent ions. Recent synchrotron x-ray diffract ion experiments showed that dilute. birefringent networks are formed under these conditions. The application of Onsager theory to this system leads to the prediction of the existence of a range of exotic mesophases such as th e "cubatic,'' the ''tetratic,'' and the ''trigatic." The exotic network pha ses appear on the border of regions of phase coexistence of network phase w ith isotropic material (at low polyvalent ion concentration) and with dense bundles (at high polyvalent ion concentration).