Inverted and multiple nematic emulsions

Poulin, Philippe; Weitz, David A.

doi:10.1103/physreve.57.626

Cited by 494 publications

(585 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…S1A). The resulting configuration of the director field around the particle has a dipolar symmetry and leads to anisotropic interactions [16][17][18][19][20][21] reminiscent of the interaction between electric dipoles. The pair interaction is of the order of several thousand k B T , leading to the formation of stable colloidal structures such as chains or two-and three-dimensional crystals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colloidal caterpillars for cargo transportation

et al. 2014

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Tunable transport of tiny objects in fluid systems is demanding in diverse fields of science such as drug delivery, active matter far from equilibrium, and lab-on-a-chip applications. Here, we report the directed motion of colloidal particles and self-assembled colloidal chains in a nematic liquid crystal matrix using electrohydrodynamic convection (EHC) rolls. The asymmetric distortion of the molecular orientation around the particles results -for single particles -in a hopping motion from one EHC roll to the next and -for colloidal chains -in a caterpillar-like motion in the direction perpendicular to the roll axes. We demonstrate the use of the colloidal chains as micro traction engines for the transport of various types of micro cargo.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colloidal caterpillars for cargo transportation

et al. 2014

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“…Typically, LC colloids exhibit either homeotropic (perpendicular) or planar (parallel) surface anchoring [25]. By adding photosensitive azobenzene groups to the surface of the colloidal particles it is possible to switch between anchoring conditions [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle selection through topographic templates in nematic colloids

et al. 2014

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We propose the use of topographic modulation of surfaces to select and localize particles in nematic colloids. By considering convex and concave deformations of one of the confining surfaces we show that the colloid-flat surface repulsion may be enhanced or switched into an attraction. In particular, we find that when the colloidal particles have the same anchoring conditions as the patterned surfaces, they are strongly attracted to concave dimples, while if they exhibit different anchoring conditions they are pinned at the top of convex protrusions. Although dominated by elastic interactions the first mechanism is reminiscent of the depletion induced attraction or of the key-lock mechanism, while the second is specific to liquid crystal colloids. These long-ranged, highly tunable, surface-colloid interactions contribute for the development of template-assisted assembly of large colloidal crystals, with well defined symmetries, required for applications.

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“…These simulations were run for 1ϫ10 6 MC cycles and trajectories were recorded every 2000 cycles. In the analysis of thus collected trajectories, LC molecules were binned according to a three-dimensional rectangular grid and properties of interest were calculated for each bin.…”

Section: B Simulation Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions between spherical colloids mediated by a liquid crystal: A molecular simulation and mesoscale study

Kim

Guzmán

Grollau

et al. 2004

The Journal of Chemical Physics

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Monte Carlo simulations and dynamic field theory ͑DyFT͒ are used to study the interactions between dilute spherical particles, dispersed in nematic and isotropic phases of a liquid crystal. A recently developed simulation method ͑expanded ensemble density of states͒ was used to determine the potential of mean force ͑PMF͒ between the two spheres as a function of their separation and size. The PMF was also calculated by a dynamic field theory that describes the evolution of the local tensor order parameter. Both methods reveal an overall attraction between the colloids in the nematic phase; in the isotropic phase, the overall attraction between the colloids is much weaker, whereas the repulsion at short range is stronger. In addition, both methods predict a new topology of the disclination lines, which arises when the particles approach each other. The theory is found to describe the results of simulations remarkably well, down to length scales comparable to the size of the molecules. At separations corresponding to the width of individual molecular layers on the particles' surface, the two methods yield different defect structures. We attribute this difference to the neglect of density inhomogeneities in the DyFT. We also investigate the effects of the size of spherical colloids on their interactions.

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Inverted and multiple nematic emulsions

Cited by 494 publications

References 11 publications

Colloidal caterpillars for cargo transportation

Colloidal caterpillars for cargo transportation

Particle selection through topographic templates in nematic colloids

Interactions between spherical colloids mediated by a liquid crystal: A molecular simulation and mesoscale study

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