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Depletion-driven crystallization of cubic colloids sedimented on a surface
Harold W Hatch1, William P Krekelberg1, Steven D Hudson2
1Chemical Informatics Research Group, Chemical Sciences Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-8380, USA.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|May 23, 2016
Summary
Researchers modeled cubic colloids with varying shapes to understand their self-assembly. They discovered that colloid shape and depletant concentration influence the formation of rhombic, square, and hexagonal lattices, guiding future experiments.
Area of Science:
- Colloid science
- Materials science
- Computational physics
Background:
- Colloidal systems exhibit diverse self-assembly behaviors.
- Controlling colloidal crystal structures is crucial for advanced materials.
- Understanding the interplay between particle shape and depletant concentration is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the phase behavior of cubic colloids with tunable shapes.
- To map the phase transitions between different lattice structures and the fluid phase.
- To provide insights for experimental synthesis of ordered colloidal structures.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Wang-Landau simulations with expanded ensembles.
- Modeled cubic colloids with shapes smoothly varying from squares to circles.
- Varied depletant concentration and colloid shape parameters.
Main Results:
- Observed the formation of rhombic, square, and hexagonal lattices, as well as a fluid phase.
- Identified transitions between all lattice structures by altering colloid shape.
- Determined transitions between fluid and crystalline phases by changing depletant concentration.
- Showcased the smooth deformation of rhombic lattices between square-like and hexagonal-like angles.
Conclusions:
- Colloid shape and depletant concentration are critical factors in determining colloidal crystal structures.
- The study provides a comprehensive understanding of phase stability in these systems.
- Results can guide experimental efforts in synthesizing novel colloidal materials using cubic colloids.
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