Liquid crystals articles within Nature Chemistry

Featured

• Article | 31 August 2014

  Chiral self-sorting and amplification in isotropic liquids of achiral molecules

  The spontaneous resolution of racemic mixtures can occur when the molecules are confined in a crystal lattice, on surfaces or in other well-ordered assemblies. Now, mirror symmetry breaking within an isotropic liquid of achiral molecules has been observed. These liquids show strong chiral amplification and provide a possible mode of emergence of chirality in prebiotic fluids.

  • Christian Dressel
  • , Tino Reppe
  •  & Carsten Tschierske

• Article | 09 February 2014

  Conversion of light into macroscopic helical motion

  Helices are found at every level of natural systems, where their dynamic potential is exploited to achieve a variety of functions. Here, liquid-crystalline molecular switches embedded in a polymer are used to prepare biomimetic spring-like materials that can convert molecular motion into macroscopic work.

  • Supitchaya Iamsaard
  • , Sarah J. Aßhoff
  •  & Nathalie Katsonis

• Research Highlights | 22 May 2012

  Inverted influences

  • Anne Pichon