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Colloids

Colloids

Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...

The Colloidal State

The Colloidal State

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...

Colloids and Suspensions

Colloids and Suspensions

Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles visible to the naked eye or seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. The suspended particles in a suspension settle out after some time of mixing. The separation of particles from a suspension is...

Colloidal precipitates

Colloidal precipitates

The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Nematic colloids, topology and photonics.

¹J. Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. igor.musevic@ijs.si

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences

|March 6, 2013

Summary

Recent advances in nematic colloids leverage topological defects for unique inter-particle forces. This research highlights their potential in photonics and active microphotonic devices based on liquid crystals.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Photonics

Background:

Nematic colloids exhibit unique inter-particle forces governed by the topology of their ordering field.
Topological defects in nematic colloids play a crucial role in their behavior and interactions.
Liquid crystals (LCs) are foundational to developing advanced photonic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent progress in nematic colloids, focusing on photonic applications.
To elucidate the role of topology and topological defects in nematic colloids.
To discuss advancements in active microphotonic devices utilizing liquid crystals.

Main Methods:

Review of experimental manipulations of topological defects in nematic colloids.
Discussion of theoretical underpinnings of topological forces in nematic systems.

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

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Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization

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Analysis of recent developments in active microphotonic devices based on LCs.

Main Results:

Topological defects in nematic colloids generate unique forces between particles.
Active microphotonic devices, including chiral nematic microlasers and tuneable nematic microresonators, have emerged.
The interplay between topology and LC-based microphotonics is a promising research avenue.

Conclusions:

The unique forces arising from topology in nematic colloids are key to their photonic potential.
Active microphotonic devices based on liquid crystals represent a significant recent advancement.
Combining topological principles with LC microphotonics offers a fertile ground for future innovation.