Lyotropic phase from hybrid organic-inorganic layered copper hydroxides

Lyotropic liquid crystalline suspensions have been observed for organic/inorganic layered copper(II) hydroxycarboxylates dispersed in organic solvents such as toluene. Polycrystalline powders of the lamellar phases Cu-2(OH)(4-x)(CnH2n+1COO)(x) were prepared for the octanoate (n = 7), stearate (n = 17), eicosanoate, (n = 19), and docosanoate (n = 21), and dispersions of each show lyotropic phase behavior when viewed under cross polarized microscopy. The dispersions form a birefringent gel at higher weight percent. The birefringence results from the lyotropic liquid crystals alignment of submicron flattened needles of the organic/inorganic layered solid, Similar behavior is observed for Ni(II) and Co(II)hydroxycarboxylates. The get phases can be cast onto solid supports, and after solvent evaporation, oriented films of the starting powder are formed. In the case of the nickel film, magnetic order, characteristic of the starting powder, is retained in the oriented film.