Quantitative real-space analysis of self-assembled structures of magnetic dipolar colloids.
We present the first real-space analysis on a single-particle level of the dipolar chains and branched clusters self-assembling in magnetic fluids in zero field. Spatial correlations and chain-length distributions directly obtained from tracked particle positions in vitrified films of synthetic magnetic (Fe3O4) dispersions provide a quantitative test for simulations and theory of dipolar fluids. A pertinent example is the cluster-size distribution that can be analyzed with a one-dimensional aggregation model to yield a dipolar attraction energy that agrees well with the dipole moment found from independent magnetization measurements.
Klokkenburg
Mark
M
Van 't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Institute, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Dullens
Roel P A
RP
Kegel
Willem K
WK
Erné
Ben H
BH
Philipse
Albert P
AP