Lyotropic mesophase of imogolite, 2. Microscopic observation of imogolite mesophase

Abstract

Abstract Imogolite, though achiral, forms cholesteric spherulites in the anisotropic phase as shown by the regular striations arranged in a swirl‐like or fingerprint pattern observed through a polarizing microscope. Electron microscopy revealed the raft‐like imogolite sheet floating in the anisotropic phase. The structure of the imogolite sheet was deduced from periodicities observed by an electron microscope using various imaging conditions. The origin of the twisting force to maintain the cholesteric ordering is also discussed.