Hiding in Plain View: Colloidal Self-Assembly from Polydisperse Populations

Cabane, B, Li, J, Artzner, F, Botet, R, Labbez, C, Bareigts, G, Sztucki, M and Goehring, L ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3858-7295, 2016. Hiding in Plain View: Colloidal Self-Assembly from Polydisperse Populations. Physical Review Letters, 116 (20), p. 208001. ISSN 0031-9007

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Abstract

We report small-angle x-ray scattering experiments on aqueous dispersions of colloidal silica with a broad monomodal size distribution (polydispersity, 14%; size, 8 nm). Over a range of volume fractions, the silica particles segregate to build first one, then two distinct sets of colloidal crystals. These dispersions thus demonstrate fractional crystallization and multiple-phase (bcc, Laves AB2, liquid) coexistence. Their remarkable ability to build complex crystal structures from a polydisperse population originates from the intermediate-range nature of interparticle forces, and it suggests routes for designing self-assembling colloidal crystals from the bottom up.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Physical Review Letters
Creators:	Cabane, B., Li, J., Artzner, F., Botet, R., Labbez, C., Bareigts, G., Sztucki, M. and Goehring, L.
Publisher:	American Physical Society
Date:	20 May 2016
Volume:	116
Number:	20
ISSN:	0031-9007
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.208001 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	05 Sep 2016 10:33
Last Modified:	09 Jun 2017 14:05
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28378

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