SAXS reveals the magnetic alignment pathway of the goethite columnar liquid crystal phase.

The alignment of board-like colloidal goethite particles in the dense rectangular centred columnar liquid crystal phase in an external magnetic field is studied using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Transient SAXS-patterns show broadening of the columnar reflections in specific directions. While the reflections along the field stay at a constant Q-value, the other reflections do not.

Tuning biaxiality of nematic phases of board-like colloids by an external magnetic field.

We study the influence of a magnetic field on the biaxial nematic phase of board-like goethite colloids both experimentally and theoretically. Using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering techniques we find that applying a magnetic field along the main director of the biaxial nematic phase leads to a clear decrease in biaxiality with increasing magnetic field strength. Above a certain magnetic field strength the biaxiality is completely suppressed and the biaxial nematic phase transforms into an ordinary prolate uniaxial nematic phase.

Liquid crystal phase transitions in suspensions of mineral colloids: new life from old roots.

A review is given of the field of mineral colloidal liquid crystals: liquid crystal phases formed by individual mineral particles within colloidal suspensions. Starting from their discovery in the 1920s, we discuss developments on the levels of both fundamentals and applications. We conclude by highlighting some promising results from recent years, which may point the way towards future developments.

Ageing in a system of polydisperse goethite boardlike particles showing rich phase behaviour.

Using microradian x-ray scattering and polarized light microscopy the rich liquid crystalline phase behaviour of a polydisperse system of chromium-modified goethite particles has been studied for five years. We observe that the particles stay highly mobile over years and the rich phase behaviour keeps developing in novel and even surprising ways. While in many other colloidal systems particle size polydispersity suppresses the formation of ordered phases, goethite particles form multiple coexisting ordered phases.

3D structure of nematic and columnar phases of hard colloidal platelets.

We present small angle x-ray scattering data of single-domain nematic and columnar liquid crystal phases in suspensions of sterically stabilized gibbsite platelets. The measurements are performed with different sample orientations to obtain information about the three-dimensional structure of the liquid crystalline phases. With the x-ray beam incident along the director of the nematic phase a strong correlation peak is observed corresponding to the side-to-side interparticle correlations, which suggests a columnar nematic structure.