The liquid-crystalline state of salt melts containing organic ions

The present review deals with the latest achievements in the chemistry of ionic melts and liquid crystals (LC). New liquid crystals, formed by salt melts containing organic ions, have been described. The characteristics of their thermodynamic and transport behaviour, structure, and optical properties have been examined. The part played by electrostatic interactions and the parameters of the cations and anions in the stabilisation of the ionic mesophase has been demonstrated. The dependence of the production of liquid crystals in binary salt mesogenic systems on the nature of the interionic interactions has been analysed. The possible practical applications of this new class of liquid crystals have been discussed.
The bibliography contains 77 references.