Mirror symmetry breaking by mixing of equimolar amounts of two gyroid phase-forming achiral molecules.

Mirror symmetry breaking was observed by mixing of equimolar amounts of two gyroid phase-forming achiral molecules, one having a short and the other with a long tail. This fact indicates the importance of a critical chain length for the appearance of the chiral bicontinuous cubic (Cubbi) phase. It also demonstrates that the molecular-level mobility is closely connected to the formation and stabilisation of those Cubbi phases.

A partially crosslinked bicontinuous cubic phase exhibiting a temperature range of more than 100 °C.

A new methodology of partial crosslinking is presented for stabilizing the bicontinuous cubic phase without losing its dynamic nature. It was applied to a mixture of 1,2-bis[4'-(9''-decenyloxy)benzoyl]hydrazine with a bi-functional linker, remarkably stabilizing the phase in comparison with the neat compound having no C=C bond at the end of the alkyl tail.