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The Colloidal State

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The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called the...

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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets

Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets

Published on: May 15, 2017

Colloidal shape controlled by molecular adsorption at liquid crystal interfaces.

Guillaume Toquer¹, Ty Phou, Sophie Monge

¹Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, UPR 8641, CNRS, Avenue Albert Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B

|March 18, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists used special surfactants to transform liquid crystal (LC) droplets into unusual nematic filaments. This discovery offers new ways to design soft composite materials by controlling molecules at LC interfaces.

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets

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Published on: May 15, 2017

Novel Techniques for Observing Structural Dynamics of Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals

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Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water

Published on: August 2, 2012

Area of Science:

Colloidal science
Soft matter physics
Materials science

Background:

Controlling material structure at the micrometer scale is crucial in colloidal science.
Liquid crystals (LCs) are increasingly utilized in soft composites due to their elastic properties for organizing matter.
Current methods for controlling LC droplet shape involve elasticity, anchoring, hydrodynamics, or external fields.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore novel methods for achieving large shape transformations in liquid crystal (LC) droplets.
To investigate the effects of specifically designed amphitropic surfactants on LC/water emulsions.
To demonstrate the formation of unusual nematic structures from spherical LC droplets.

Main Methods:

Utilizing specifically designed amphitropic surfactants.
Creating direct liquid crystal (LC)/water emulsions.
Observing and analyzing shape transformations of LC droplets, focusing on nematic filament formation.

Main Results:

Demonstrated large-shape transformations in direct LC/water emulsions using designed surfactants.
Observed the formation of unusual nematic filaments originating from spherical LC droplets.
Showcased the significant impact of molecular adsorption at LC interfaces on droplet morphology.

Conclusions:

Adsorption of molecules at liquid crystal interfaces can induce significant shape changes beyond the known anchoring effect.
The use of specifically designed amphitropic surfactants enables the creation of novel nematic structures, such as filaments.
These findings open new avenues for designing advanced soft composite materials with controlled microstructures.