Strong tendency towards homeotropic alignment in a hexagonal columnar mesophase of fluoroalkylated triphenylenes

It was found that the introduction of a perfluoroalkyl group into the peripheral chains of triphenylene mesogens could provide a strong tendency towards homeotropic alignment of the hexagonal columnar (Colh) mesophase on a variety of substrates, indicating a new concept of molecular methodology for the alignment control of a columnar mesophase.