title: Liquid-crystalline nanoparticles: Hybrid design and mesophase structures.
abstract: Liquid-crystalline nanoparticles represent an exciting class of new materials for a variety of potential applications. By combining supramolecular ordering with the fluid properties of the liquid-crystalline state, these materials offer the possibility to organise nanoparticles into addressable 2-D and 3-D arrangements exhibiting high processability and self-healing properties. Herein, we review the developments in the field of discrete thermotropic liquid-crystalline nanoparticle hybrids, with special emphasis on the relationship between the nanoparticle morphology and the nature of the organic ligand coating and their resulting phase behaviour. Mechanisms proposed to explain the supramolecular organisation of the mesogens within the liquid-crystalline phases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), CNRS-Université de Strasbourg (UMR 7504), 23 rue du Loess, BP 43, 67034 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Gareth L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Nealon
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greget
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna T
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guillon
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gallani
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Donnio