Phase diagram of binary colloidal rod-sphere mixtures from a 3D real-space analysis of sedimentation–diffusion equilibria

H.E. Bakker, S. Dussi, Barbera Droste, T Besseling, C.L. Kennedy, Evert Wiegant, B. Liu, A. Imhof, M. Dijkstra, A. van Blaaderen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Self-assembly of binary particle systems offers many new opportunities for aterials science. Here, we studied sedimentation equilibria of silica rods and spheres, using quantitative 3D confocal microscopy. We determined not only pressure, density and order parameter profiles, but also the experimental phase diagram exhibiting a stable binary smectic liquid-crystalline phase (Sm2). Using computer simulations we confirmed that the Sm2-phase can be stabilized by entropy alone, which opens up the possibility of combining new materials properties at a wide array of length scales.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9238-9245
Number of pages8
JournalSoft Matter
Volume12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Oct 2016

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