title: Self-assembly of 2D membranes from mixtures of hard rods and depleting polymers().
abstract: We combine simulations and experiments to elucidate the molecular forces leading to the assembly of two dimensional membrane-like structures composed of a one rod-length thick monolayer of aligned rods from an immiscible suspension of hard rods and depleting polymers. Computer simulations predict that monolayer membranes are thermodynamically stable above a critical rod aspect ratio and below a critical depletion interaction length scale. Outside of these conditions alternative structures such as stacked smectic columns or nematic droplets are thermodynamically stable. These predictions are confirmed by subsequent experiments using a model system of virus rod-like molecules and non-adsorbing polymer. Our work demonstrates that collective molecular protrusion fluctuations alone are sufficient to stabilize membranes composed of homogenous rods with simple excluded volume interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02454, USA.
authors.forename: Yasheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Zvonimir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dogic
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hagan