Gelation of patchy ligand shell nanoparticles decorated by liquid-crystalline ligands: computer simulation study.

We consider the coarse-grained modelling of patchy ligand shell nanoparticles with liquid crystalline ligands. The cases of two, three, four and six symmetrically arranged patches of ligands are discussed, as well as the cases of their equatorial and icosahedral arrangement. A solution of decorated nanoparticles is considered within a slit-like pore with solid walls and the interior filled by a polar solvent.