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Self-assembly of cubic colloidal particles at fluid-fluid interfaces by hexapolar capillary interactions
Giuseppe Soligno1, Marjolein Dijkstra, René van Roij
1Institute for Theoretical Physics, Center for Extreme Matter and Emergent Phenomena, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands. g.soligno@uu.nl.
Soft Matter
|November 11, 2017
Summary
Particle shape influences self-assembly at fluid interfaces. Cubes of specific sizes and edge types form honeycomb, hexagonal, and square lattices due to capillary forces, impacting 2D ordered structure formation.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and Surface Science
- Soft Matter Physics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Colloidal particles at fluid interfaces self-assemble into 2D structures via capillary interactions.
- Previous work predicted honeycomb and hexagonal lattices for smooth-edge cubes at specific contact angles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation of thermodynamically-stable square lattices driven by hexapolar deformations.
- To analyze the impact of particle shape variations (smooth, sharp, truncated edges) on self-assembly.
- To map self-assembly behavior using temperature-density phase diagrams.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical calculations incorporating capillary and hard-particle interactions.
- Analysis of hexapolar capillary deformations induced by cube-shaped particles.
- Generation of temperature-density phase diagrams to illustrate self-assembly outcomes.
Main Results:
- Hexapolar deformations can induce thermodynamically-stable square lattices in addition to honeycomb and hexagonal lattices.
- Particle shape significantly alters self-assembly, both qualitatively and quantitatively.
- Specific size ranges for sharp-edge, smooth-edge, and truncated-edge cubes are required for honeycomb lattice formation.
- Square lattice phase stability is dependent on edge smoothness, favoring smooth and truncated edges.
Conclusions:
- Particle shape is a critical parameter controlling self-assembly into various 2D lattices at fluid interfaces.
- The findings provide a framework for designing and predicting self-assembled structures based on particle geometry and size.
- Tuning particle edge characteristics offers a route to control the emergent lattice symmetry.
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