Ionic Liquid Crystals Based on Pyridinium Salts

Abstract

This chapter describes the liquid crystalline properties of the ionic liquid crystals (ILC) based on pyridinium salts as well as their metal-containing compounds with an emphasis on the recent systems described in literature. The main factors that influence the liquid crystalline properties of pyridinium ILC are discussed. Selected thermal data are given according to mesogenic group employed and its position (either N-substitution or pyridinium ring substitution) and the number of structural cationic units (mono-, di-, or polycationic pyridinium ILC).