A unique insight into the defect structures of bicontinuous mesophases in liquid crystals and hybrid materials

Han et al. [(2020), IUCrJ, 7, 228–237] using advanced electron microscopy and crystallographic modelling rationalise the microstructure of twinning defects in order to visualize mesophase transitions and surface properties of G and D bicontinuous cubic mesostructured silica. This work furthers our understanding of how these phases originate in many natural and synthetic systems.