Hexaarylbiimidazoles (HABIs) are a promising class of photoswitchable molecule that have received little attention in the literature. Among them, (2,2′-dimethoxydiphenylimidazole)-1,1′-binaphthyl (HABI1) displays unusual negative photochromism and is responsive to green light. This study investigates the potential of HABIs to serve as photo-responsive actuators controlling the structure of lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) materials. HABI1 with four methyl chains and HABI2 with four dodecyl chains were synthesized. Time resolved small angle X-ray scattering was used to characterize the potential disruptive effects of HABIs on the nanostructure of LLC systems. HABIs underwent rapid isomerization under irradiation, with a very slow reversion in the dark in toluene and in the LLC matrix, demonstrating excellent stability and photo-fatigue resistant. HABIs completely triggered phase transitions in the phytantriol-based materials, and HABI2 generated a greater disruption than HABI1 on the lipid packing due to the enhanced steric influence. Tuning the lipid composition yielded systems that transitioned from a “slow release” lamellar phase to a “burst release” bicontinuous cubic phase upon light irradiation. Such systems therefore may exhibit a triggered release behavior upon a short time of irradiation, showing great potential in “on demand” drug delivery.

六芳基联咪唑（HABI）是一类有前景的光开关分子，在文献中很少受到关注。其中，（2,2'-二甲氧基二苯基咪唑）-1,1'-联萘基（HABI1）显示出异常的负光致变色现象，并且对绿光有响应。这项研究调查了HABI用作控制溶致液晶（LLC）材料结构的光敏致动器的潜力。合成了具有四个甲基链的HABI1和具有四个十二烷基链的HABI2。时间分辨的小角度X射线散射用于表征HABI对LLC系统纳米结构的潜在破坏作用。哈比S在辐射下进行了快速异构化，在黑暗中在甲苯和LLC基质中的回复非常缓慢，显示出优异的稳定性和耐光疲劳性。HABI完全触发了基于植物三醇的物质中的相变，由于增强的空间影响，HABI2对脂质堆积的破坏比HABI1更大。调整脂质组成可得到在光照下从“缓慢释放”层状相转变为“爆发释放”双连续立方相的系统。因此，这样的系统在短时间的照射下可能表现出触发的释放行为，在“按需”给药中显示出巨大的潜力。