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Colloidal particles in a drying suspension: a phase field crystal approach
Nirmalendu Ganai1, Arnab Saha, Surajit Sengupta
1Department of Physics, Nabadwip Vidyasagar College, Nabadwip, 741302 Nadia, India. nirmalendu.phy@gmail.com
The European Physical Journal. E, Soft Matter
|August 15, 2013
Summary
Evaporation of colloidal drops can form ordered or disordered patterns. The final arrangement of colloidal residue depends on initial density and drying rate, revealing a non-equilibrium phase boundary.
Area of Science:
- Colloid science
- Materials science
- Statistical physics
Background:
- Colloidal suspensions are widely used in various applications.
- Understanding the self-assembly of colloidal particles during solvent evaporation is crucial for materials design.
- Previous studies often face challenges with contact line pinning, complicating analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structure and dynamics of colloidal suspension drops during solvent evaporation.
- To model an experimental system with non-existent contact line pinning.
- To determine the factors controlling the ordered or disordered arrangement of colloidal residue.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a phase field crystal model for simulation.
- Simulating the evaporation process of colloidal drops.
- Analyzing the influence of initial solute density and drying rate on residue structure.
Main Results:
- A non-equilibrium phase boundary was established in the density-drying rate plane.
- Amorphous and crystalline phases were identified for single-component and binary mixtures.
- Single-component colloids self-assemble into a 2D triangular lattice.
- Binary mixtures can form three triangular sub-lattices, with selective occupation.
Conclusions:
- The final arrangement of colloidal residue is predictable based on initial conditions and drying rate.
- Controlled evaporation offers a method for fabricating ordered colloidal structures.
- The phase field crystal model effectively captures complex colloidal self-assembly phenomena.
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