Nanostructured organic electrolytes

This review introduces research work in the area of organic liquid crystalline (LC) electrolytes consisting of ionophilic and ionophobic groups. I discuss the LC phase behavior and morphology-dependent ion conduction of organic electrolyte systems based upon (i) coil–coil block copolymers (BCP), (ii) dendritic BCPs, (iii) mini-dendron-based liquid crystals, and (iv) rod-type liquid crystals. As a way to improve ionic conductivity and mechanical strength, the self-assembling approach of each LC system and other processes including macroscopic alignment techniques and post-polymerizations are described.