Permeation Properties of Liquid Crystal—polymer composite membranes

The transport properties of membranes containing liquid crystals (LCs) are discussed and several examples presented that illustrate the potential of such membranes with and without a specific transport component. The thermal response, i.e. the influence of the LC phase transition on the permeability, and the effect of electric fields are described. It is shown that members of this unique family of membranes display the high flux characteristic of fluids above the mesophase transition temperature while retaining excellent mechanical properties.