Layered ionic liquid-crystalline organisations built from nano-capsules [Mo132O312S60(SO4)x(H2O)132−2x](12 + 2x)− and DODA+ cations

Two dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DODA+) salts of a new keplerate with the general formula [Mo132O312S60(SO4)x(H2O)132–2x](12 + 2x)− and abbreviated DODAn−Mo132S60 (n = 44, 56) were synthesised and characterised. Both clusters were fully characterised by the combination of Polarised Optical Microscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Small-angle X-Ray Diffraction showing self-organisation in lamellar (L) liquid crystalline phases. We demonstrated that the lamellar periodicity h of the mesophases can be controlled with the number of DODA+ associated to the clusters. Finally, these new results were compared to those gained from a previously published analogue, the fully oxo keplerate noted DODA36−Mo132 that also self-organise with temperature, but in a slightly more structured lamellar liquid crystalline phase.