Bilayer lipid membranes formed from thermotropic liquid crystals

Abstract
This paper reports a new type of bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) with aqueous interfaces which are formed from thermotropic liquid crystals (nematic-6CB, smectic–8CB, and cholesteric-cholesteryl palmitate, ChP). The electrical properties of these unmodified membranes have been investigated. We suggest that BLMs of this type in their 'black' states consist of two molecular layers with a smectic-like structure.