Cation Modules as Building Blocks Forming Supramolecular Assemblies with Planar Receptor–Anion Complexes

Ion-based materials were fabricated through ion pairing
of planar
receptor–anion complexes and cation modules as negatively and
positively charged building blocks, respectively. Anion receptors
that could not form soft materials by themselves provided mesophases
upon anion binding and subsequent ion pairing with aliphatic cation
modules. The mesogenic behaviors were affected by structural modification
of both the cation module and the anion receptor. Synchrotron X-ray
diffraction measurements suggested the formation of columnar mesophases
with contributions from charge-by-charge and charge-segregated arrangements.
Flash-photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements
further revealed a higher charge-carrier mobility in the assembly
with a large contribution from the charge-segregated arrangement than
in the charge-by-charge-based assembly.