Homeotropic nano-particle assembly on degenerate planar nematic interfaces: films and droplets
Abstract
A continuum theory is used to study the effects of homeotropic nano-particles on degenerate planar liquid crystal interfaces. Particle self-assembly mechanisms are obtained from careful examination of particle configurations on a planar film and on a spherical droplet. The free energy functional that describes the system is minimized according to Ginzburg–Landau and stochastic relaxations. The interplay between elastic and surface distortions and the desire to minimize defect volumes (boojums and half-Saturn rings) is shown to be responsible for the formation of intriguing ordered structures. As a general trend, the particles prefer to localize at defects to minimize the overall free energy. However, multiple metastable configurations corresponding to local minima can be easily observed due to the high energy barriers that separate distinct particle arrangements. Finally, we show that by controlling anchoring strength and temperature one can direct liquid-crystal mediated nanoparticle self-assembly along well defined pathways.
- Authors:
-
[2];
- Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States)
- Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States); Univ. Nacional de Columbia, Sede Medellin (Columbia)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States); Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología in Mexico (CONACyT); Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1603434
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0004025; AC02-06CH11357; 110-165-843-748
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Soft Matter
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 11; Journal Issue: 25; Journal ID: ISSN 1744-683X
- Publisher:
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; liquid crystals; Landau-de genes; Ginzburg-Landau relaxation; monte-carlo; nanoscale assembly
Citation Formats
Londoño-Hurtado, Alejandro, Armas-Pérez, Julio C., Hernández-Ortiz, Juan P., and de Pablo, Juan J. Homeotropic nano-particle assembly on degenerate planar nematic interfaces: films and droplets. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web. doi:10.1039/C5SM00940E.
Londoño-Hurtado, Alejandro, Armas-Pérez, Julio C., Hernández-Ortiz, Juan P., & de Pablo, Juan J. Homeotropic nano-particle assembly on degenerate planar nematic interfaces: films and droplets. United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5SM00940E
Londoño-Hurtado, Alejandro, Armas-Pérez, Julio C., Hernández-Ortiz, Juan P., and de Pablo, Juan J. Wed .
"Homeotropic nano-particle assembly on degenerate planar nematic interfaces: films and droplets". United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5SM00940E. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1603434.
@article{osti_1603434,
title = {Homeotropic nano-particle assembly on degenerate planar nematic interfaces: films and droplets},
author = {Londoño-Hurtado, Alejandro and Armas-Pérez, Julio C. and Hernández-Ortiz, Juan P. and de Pablo, Juan J.},
abstractNote = {A continuum theory is used to study the effects of homeotropic nano-particles on degenerate planar liquid crystal interfaces. Particle self-assembly mechanisms are obtained from careful examination of particle configurations on a planar film and on a spherical droplet. The free energy functional that describes the system is minimized according to Ginzburg–Landau and stochastic relaxations. The interplay between elastic and surface distortions and the desire to minimize defect volumes (boojums and half-Saturn rings) is shown to be responsible for the formation of intriguing ordered structures. As a general trend, the particles prefer to localize at defects to minimize the overall free energy. However, multiple metastable configurations corresponding to local minima can be easily observed due to the high energy barriers that separate distinct particle arrangements. Finally, we show that by controlling anchoring strength and temperature one can direct liquid-crystal mediated nanoparticle self-assembly along well defined pathways.},
doi = {10.1039/C5SM00940E},
journal = {Soft Matter},
number = 25,
volume = 11,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Wed May 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}
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