Clusters of charged Janus spheres.
We study the assembly of spherical particles with opposite electric charge on both hemispheres, in the case that the particle diameter exceeds the electrostatic screening length. Clusters result, not strings. The cluster shapes are analyzed by combined epifluorescence microscopy and Monte Carlo computer simulations with excellent agreement, indicating that the particles assemble in aqueous suspension to form equilibrated aggregates. The simulations show that charge asymmetry of individual Janus particles is preserved in the clusters.
Hong
Liang
L
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
Cacciuto
Angelo
A
Luijten
Erik
E
Granick
Steve
S
D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010316:Particle Size; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055672:Static Electricity
D003102:Colloids