Fig. 2: Characterization of PBDT + GO hybrid nematics.

a Small angle X-ray scattering from fluid PBDT + GO mixture contained in a transmission cell (parallel mica windows separated by a 750 μm spacer) for α ≈ 15^° (“edge-on”) and α = 90^° (normal incidence). In the hybrid phases the scattering from the PBDT is easily distinguished from scattering due to GO platelets; the former is at larger scattering angles⁸ and the latter, dominated by GO scattering, is adjacent to the beam-stop. The non-uniform azimuthal intensity in the α ≈ 15^° scattering from the ^hN_b phase (C_total = 4.9, 7.1, and 14.4 wt.%) derives from a combination of flow-induced orientation on preparing the cell and preferential anchoring of both components of the ^hN_b phase. The inter-rod spacing d_P for PBDT in the (biphasic) ^hN_b phase appears to be well behaved exhibiting a d_P = C_P^−1/2 scaling relationship; the unstable GO dispersion in the isotropic mixture (C_total = 1.7 wt.%) deviates from the scaling relationship. b A schematic diagram of the stratified supramolecular arrangement in a single monodomain of the ^hN_b phase wherein the directors n_GO and n_P are orthogonal.