title: Confinement of anomalous liquids in nanoporous matrices.
abstract: Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the effects of different nanoconfinements on complex liquids-e.g., colloids or protein solutions-with density anomalies and a liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT). In all the confinements, we find a strong depletion effect with a large increase in liquid density near the confining surface. If the nanoconfinement is modeled by an ordered matrix of nanoparticles, we find that the anomalies are preserved. On the contrary, if the confinement is modeled by a disordered matrix of nanoparticles, we find a drastically different phase diagram: the LLPT shifts to lower pressures and temperatures, and the anomalies become weaker, as the disorder increases. We find that the density heterogeneities induced by the disordered matrix are responsible for the weakening of the LLPT and the disappearance of the anomalies.
authors.affiliation: Center for Polymer Studies and Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Elena G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Strekalova
authors.forename: Jiayuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: H Eugene
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franzese
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Buldyrev