Vertically aligned helical polyacetylene synthesized in chiral nematic liquid crystal under magnetic field

Polyacetylene films with vertically aligned fibril morphology were synthesized in homeotropic nematic LC (N-LC) solvent, by using a magnetic field of 5 T as an external perturbation. Next, helical polyacetylene films with vertically aligned and screwed fibril morphology were synthesized in macroscopically aligned chiral nematic LC (N*-LC) under magnetic field. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) indicated that the lengths of fibrils from the substrate were 5–20 μm, depending on polymerization time, acetylene pressure and catalyst concentration.