DBS is an efficient, versatile, low-molecular-weight gelator with a wide-range of industrial applications – greater understanding of its self-assembly and the creation of new derivatives are expanding the scope of this fascinating family of gels.
Two orthogonal (grid-like) and one directional fibrous structures are selectively formed through anisotropic self-assembly of low-molecular-weight gelators in liquid-crystalline smectic A templates depending on thermally tuned layered structures.