Assembly of open clusters of colloidal dumbbells via droplet evaporation.
We investigate the behavior of a mixture of asymmetric colloidal dumbbells and emulsion droplets by means of kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. The evaporation of the droplets and the competition between droplet-colloid attraction and colloid-colloid interactions lead to the formation of clusters built up of colloid aggregates with both closed and open structures. We find that stable packings and hence complex colloidal structures can be obtained by changing the relative size of the colloidal spheres and/or their interfacial tension with the droplets.
Theoretische Physik II, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.|Department of Physics, Hanoi National University of Education, 136 Xuanthuy, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hai
H
Pham Van
Theoretische Physik II, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.|Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
Andrea
A
Fortini
Theoretische Physik II, Physikalisches Institut, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany.
Matthias
M
Schmidt