Dicarboxylate gemini surfactant that forms a lyotropic liquid crystal

A lyotropic liquid crystal composition comprising a polar solvent and an anionic Gemini surfactant, the anionic Gemini surfactant comprising at least one carboxylate moiety;

• wherein the anionic Gemini surfactant forms a triply periodic phase over a range of concentrations from Ci to Cii wherein the difference between Ci and Cii is at least 10 weight percent and over a range of temperatures from Ti to Tii wherein the difference between Ti and Tii is at least 40° C.
• wherein the anionic Gemini surfactant has the following structure:
• wherein X1 and X2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic moiety having between four and 30 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl-aliphatic moiety having between four and 30 carbon atoms;
• Y is a connecting moiety;
• M is a counterion;
• and
• R1 through R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoride, chloride, and bromide.

A lyotropic liquid crystal composition comprising a polar solvent and an anionic Gemini surfactant, the anionic Gemini surfactant comprising at least one carboxylate moiety;

• wherein the anionic Gemini surfactant forms a triply periodic phase over a range of concentrations from Ci to Cii wherein the difference between Ci and Cii is at least 10 weight percent and over a range of temperatures from Ti to Tii wherein the difference between Ti and Tii is at least 40° C.
• wherein the anionic Gemini surfactant has the following structure:
• wherein Z1 and Z2 are integers, each independently having a value between four and 20;
• Y is a connecting moiety;
• and
• M is a counterion.

A lyotropic liquid crystal composition comprising:

• a polar solvent at a concentration of at least 10 weight percent;
• and
• an anionic Gemini surfactant at a concentration of least 30 weight percent, the anionic Gemini surfactant having the following structure:
• wherein X1 and X2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic moiety having between four and 30 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl-aliphatic moiety having between four and 30 carbon atoms;
• Y is a connecting moiety selected from the group consisting of a branched or unbranched hydrocarbyl moiety, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl moiety, and a hydrophilic moiety;
• M is a counterion;
• and
• R1 through R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluoride, chloride, and bromide.