Dynamics of structural transformations between lamellar and inverse bicontinuous cubic lyotropic phases.
The liquid crystalline lamellar (L(alpha)) to double-diamond inverse bicontinuous cubic (Q(D)(pi)) phase transition for the amphiphile monoelaidin in excess water exhibits a remarkable sequence of structural transformations for pressure or temperature jumps. Our data imply that the transition dynamics depends on a coupling between changes in molecular shape and the geometrical and topological constraints of domain size. We propose a qualitative model for this coupling based on theories of membrane fusion via stalks and existing knowledge of the structure and energetics of bicontinuous cubic phases.
Conn
Charlotte E
CE
Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
Ces
Oscar
O
Mulet
Xavier
X
Finet
Stephanie
S
Winter
Roland
R
Seddon
John M
JM
Templer
Richard H
RH