Wojcik Michal, Lewandowski Wiktor, Matraszek Joanna, Mieczkowski Jozef, Borysiuk Jolanta, Pociecha Damian, Gorecka Ewa
Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Al. Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2009;48(28):5167-9. doi: 10.1002/anie.200901206.
Spontaneous formation of smectic and columnar structures was observed when spherical gold nanoparticles were functionalized with mesogenic thiols (see layered structure and X-ray pattern of a sample in smectic phase). The particle ordering is stimulated by softening of the interparticle potential and flexibility for deformation of the grafting layer.