title: Frustration of the isotropic-columnar phase transition of colloidal hard platelets by a transient cubatic phase.
abstract: Using simulations and theory, we show that the cubatic phase is metastable for three model hard platelets. The locally favored structures of perpendicular particle stacks in the fluid prevent the formation of the columnar phase through geometric frustration resulting in vitrification. Also, we find a direct link between structure and dynamic heterogeneities in the cooperative rotation of particle stacks, which is crucial for the devitrification process. Finally, we show that the lifetime of the glassy cubatic phase can be tuned by surprisingly small differences in particle shape.
authors.affiliation: Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 5, 3561 RT Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marechal
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: Marjolein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dijkstra