Partial clustering in binary two-dimensional colloidal suspensions.
Strongly interacting binary mixtures of superparamagnetic colloidal particles confined to a two-dimensional water-air interface are examined by theory, computer simulation, and experiment. The mixture exhibits a partial clustering in equilibrium: in the voids of the matrix of unclustered big particles, the small particles form subclusters with a spongelike topology which is accompanied by a characteristic small-wave vector peak in the small-small structure factor. This partial clustering is a general phenomenon occurring for strongly coupled negatively nonadditive mixtures.
Hoffmann
Norman
N
Institut für Theoretische Physik II, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
Ebert
Florian
F
Likos
Christos N
CN
Löwen
Hartmut
H
Maret
Georg
G
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D013535:Suspensions / Q000737:chemistry
D003102:Colloids; D013535:Suspensions