Liquid‐Crystalline Networks: Micellar Lyotropic Nematic Gels (Adv. Mater. 8/2021)

Abstract

In article number 2007340, Frank Giesselmann and co-workers report the rational design of micellar lyotropic nematic gels by adding low-molecular-weight gelators to micellar lyotropic nematic phases. These new liquid-crystalline networks are promising materials for the field of water-based soft robotics and biomimetic actuation. The image shows the birefringent texture of a lyotropic nematic gel seen in a polarizing optical microscope.