A triple-network tricontinuous cubic liquid crystal

The possible rationale for the existence of a triple-network bicontinuous cubic liquid crystal, its structural relationship with the bicontinuous phases, and its position in the phase diagram was investigated. The structure was a solvent-free liquid crystal of cubic symmetry lm3̄m and was determined by direct Fourier reconstruction of electron density. A reconstructured three-dimensional electron-density map, was considered to represent the best combination of structure-factor phases. The geometric calculations show that the shape requirements for molecules forming the structure are similar to those for the formation of the Ia3̄m phase.