Multi-Scale Characterization of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals Using 2H and Diffusion MRI with Spatial Resolution in Three Dimensions
Journal article, 2014

The ability of lyotropic liquid crystals to form intricate structures on a range of length scales can be utilized for the synthesis of structurally complex inorganic materials, as well as in devices for controlled drug delivery. Here we employ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for non-invasive characterization of nano-, micro-, and millimeter scale structures in liquid crystals. The structure is mirrored in the translational and rotational motion of the water, which we assess by measuring spatially resolved self-diffusion tensors and spectra. Our approach differs from previous works in that the MRI parameters are mapped with spatial resolution in all three dimensions, thus allowing for detailed studies of liquid crystals with complex millimeter-scale morphologies that are stable on the measurement time-scale of 10 hours. The data conveys information on the nanometer-scale structure of the liquid crystalline phase, while the combination of diffusion and data permits an estimate of the orientational distribution of micrometer-scale anisotropic domains. We study lamellar phases consisting of the nonionic surfactant C10E3 in O, and follow their structural equilibration after a temperature jump and the cessation of shear. Our experimental approach may be useful for detailed characterization of liquid crystalline materials with structures on multiple length scales, as well as for studying the mechanisms of phase transitions.

Author

Diana Bernin

SuMo Biomaterials

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Applied Surface Chemistry

V. Koch

Lund University

Magnus Nydén

University of South Australia

D. Topgaard

Lund University

PLoS ONE

1932-6203 (ISSN) 19326203 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 6 Art. no. e98752- e98752

Subject Categories

Chemical Sciences

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0098752

More information

Latest update

8/18/2020