Building Knowledge Bridges through Effective Science Communication.

The ability to communicate is fundamental to life as we know it and the key to success in many cases is based on having good communication skills. Be it written, spoken, visual, auditory or otherwise, effective communication can open many doors to hidden knowledge that can benefit the world. Science as an entity, which itself stems from the Latin word Scientia, (Engl.

Self-Assembly and Fluorescence of Tetracationic Liquid Crystalline Tetraphenylethene.

A series of tetraguanidinium tetraphenylethene (TPE) arylsulfonates with different chain lengths was prepared via ionic self-assembly of tetraguanidinium TPE chloride and the respective methyl arylsulfonates. Liquid crystalline properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Tetraguanidinium TPE arylsulfonates with chain lengths of C -C displayed hexagonal columnar mesophases over a broad temperature range, while derivatives with longer chains showed oblique columnar phases.

Renewable Energy Special Issue: Going for Green!

Seeking sustainability: This Special Issue is dedicated to the topic of Renewable Energy. Within this collection of manuscripts are excellent contributions from leading scientists throughout the world who are committed to searching for ways to provide the world with cleaner and greener energy alternatives for a brighter tomorrow.

Tyrosine-Based Ionic Liquid Crystals: Switching from a Smectic A to a Columnar Mesophase by Exchange of the Spherical Counterion.

Synthetic strategies were developed to prepare l-tyrosine-based ionic liquid crystals with structural variations at the carboxylic and phenolic OH groups as well as the amino functionality. Salt metathesis additionally led to counterion variation. The liquid-crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (WAXS, SAXS).

Columnar propeller-like 1,3,5-triphenylbenzenes: the missing link of shape-persistent hekates.

Triphenylbenzenes with different substitution patterns at the outer phenyl rings have been successfully synthesised. Sixfold n-alkoxy substitution was insufficient for mesomorphism, but already increasing the number of side chains by three methoxy groups led to liquid crystalline behaviour and mesophase formation. Symmetrical triphenylbenzenes with nine n-alkoxy side chains (≥C9) formed broad enantiotropic mesophases.