ABSTRACTIn recent years great advances have been made in the synthesis of
organic-inorganic hybrid materials, whether they are oligomeric, multipodal,
polymeric or dendritic in structure. Of particular interest are
liquid-crystalline systems, as the control of the soft self-assembly
behaviour of these systems allows for the addressing of the macroscopic
properties of these materials.The investigations of silsesquioxane and siloxane cores decorated with
suitable organic groups of linear and branched structures leading to
liquid-crystalline phase behaviour is presented. The structural and chemical
features which govern the phase behaviour will be discussed. Important
features are the size, geometry, structure and flexibility of the inorganic
core, the flexibility, branching and length of the spacer linking inorganic
cores and the organic groups, which promote liquid-crystalline phase
behaviour. The effects of a variety of mesogenic structures on the
liquid-crystalline phase behaviour and stability range will be
discussed.