Formation of two-dimensional diamond-like colloidal crystals using layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly.

We report here that a two-dimensional (2D) diamond-like structure of micron-sized colloidal particles can be obtained by layer-by-layer self-assembly. Positively and negatively charged silica particles, 1 μm in diameter, were used in the experiments. On a positively charged, flat glass substrate, the first layer of negatively charged particles was prepared to form a non-close-packed 2D crystal.

Clustering of charged colloidal particles in the microgravity environment of space.

We conducted a charge-charge clustering experiment of positively and negatively charged colloidal particles in aqueous media under a microgravity environment at the International Space Station. A special setup was used to mix the colloid particles in microgravity and then these structures were immobilized in gel cured using ultraviolet (UV) light. The samples returned to the ground were observed by optical microscopy.

Surface Plasmon Resonance of Two-Dimensional Gold Colloidal Crystals Formed on Gold Plates.

The free electrons inside precious metals such as Au vibrate when the surface of the metal is irradiated with an electromagnetic wave of an appropriate frequency. This oscillation is referred to as surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and the resonance frequency varies with permittivity of the medium around the metal. SPR sensors are widely applied in the fields of bioscience and pharmaceutical sciences, including biosensing for drug discovery, biomarker screening, virus detection, and testing for food safety.

Crystallization of charged gold particles mediated by nonadsorbing like-charged polyelectrolyte.

We report that the aqueous dispersions of negatively charged submicron-sized colloidal Au particles formed non-close-packed colloidal crystals by the addition of a like-charged linear polyelectrolyte, sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA). Au particles often form irregular aggregates in dispersions because of a strong van der Waals force acting between them. To prevent aggregation, we introduced negative electric charges on particle surfaces.

Two-Dimensional Nonclose-Packed Colloidal Crystals by the Electrostatic Adsorption of Three-Dimensional Charged Colloidal Crystals.

We demonstrate that nonclose-packed two-dimensional (2D) colloidal crystals fixed on flat solid surfaces can be obtained by the electrostatic adsorption of three-dimensional (3D) charged colloidal crystals onto oppositely charged substrates. 3D colloidal crystals of negatively charged polystyrene (diameter = 500 nm) and silica ( = 510 and 550 nm) particles were formed in their aqueous dispersions. Then, a single layer of the 3D crystals (the particle volume fraction = ∼0.

Mechanism of diffusiophoresis with chemical reaction on a colloidal particle.

A mechanism for diffusiophoresis of a charged colloidal particle undergoing surface chemical reaction is proposed. A theoretical model is constructed to describe the dynamics of the particle and the surrounding solution of a weak electrolyte. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations of the model reveal that phoretic motion of the particle emerges in response to a concentration gradient of electrolyte.

Particle Adsorption on Hydrogel Surfaces in Aqueous Media due to van der Waals Attraction.

Particle adhesion onto hydrogels has recently attracted considerable attention because of the potential biomedical applications of the resultant materials. A variety of interactions have been taken advantage of for adsorption, including electrostatic forces, hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. In this study, we report significant adsorption of submicron-sized silica particles onto hydrogel surfaces in water, purely by van der Waals (vdW) attraction.

Numerical study of cluster formation in binary charged colloids.

Cluster formation of oppositely charged colloidal particles is studied numerically. A simple Brownian dynamics method with a screened-Coulomb (Yukawa) potential is employed for numerical simulations. An equilibrium phase which consists of clusters and unassociated particles is obtained.

Spontaneous Formation of Eutectic Crystal Structures in Binary and Ternary Charged Colloids due to Depletion Attraction.

Crystallization of colloids has extensively been studied for past few decades as models to study phase transition in general. Recently, complex crystal structures in multi-component colloids, including alloy and eutectic structures, have attracted considerable attention. However, the fabrication of 2D area-filling colloidal eutectics has not been reported till date.

Thermoreversible crystallization of charged colloids due to adsorption/desorption of ionic surfactants.

We report that charged colloids exhibit thermoreversible crystallization via the adsorption of ionic surfactants onto particle surfaces. Due to the temperature dependence of the adsorption quantity, the colloids crystallized upon cooling and melted upon heating. To clarify the influences of surfactant adsorption on the crystallization, polystyrene (PS) particles dispersed in ethylene glycol (EG)/water mixtures were employed, enabling continuous tuning of the adsorption quantity by changing the EG concentration.

Controlled Clustering in Binary Charged Colloids by Adsorption of Ionic Surfactants.

We report on the controlled clustering of oppositely charged colloidal particles by the adsorption of ionic surfactants, which tunes charge numbers Z of particles. In particular, we studied the heteroclustering of submicron-sized polystyrene (PS) and silica particles, both of which are negatively charged, in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), a cationic surfactant. The surfactant concentration Csurf was selected below the critical micelle concentration.

Dynamics of polyelectrolyte solutions under a constant gradient of base concentration.

Phase-separation dynamics of weakly charged polyacid solutions under a constant gradient of base concentration is studied both theoretically and numerically. The time-evolution equation of polymer volume fraction is derived by assuming that the chemical equilibrium of the dissociation reaction is locally established. Numerical simulations of the system in contact with two reservoirs in which the base concentrations differ are performed.

Mesoscopic simulation of phase behaviors and structures in an amphiphile-solvent system.

We have performed a three-dimensional simulation of mesoscopic structures in a mixture of AB amphiphilic molecule and C solvent by employing the density-functional theory under the conditions that (i) the size of the AB is much larger than C and (ii) the affinity between A and B is much larger than the affinity between B and C. First, we have calculated the free energy of five periodic structures, i.e.

Exclusion of impurity particles in charged colloidal crystals.

Uniformly shaped, charged colloidal particles dispersed in water form ordered "crystal" structures when the interaction between the particles is sufficiently strong. Herein, we report the behavior of "impurity" particles, whose sizes and/or charge numbers are different from those of the bulk, on addition to the charged colloidal crystals. These impurities were excluded from the crystals during the homogeneous crystallization, crystal grain growth, and unidirectional crystallization processes.

Recrystallization and zone melting of charged colloids by thermally induced crystallization.

We examined the application of recrystallization and zone-melting crystallization methods, which have been used widely to fabricate large, high-purity crystals of atomic and molecular systems, to charged colloidal crystals. Our samples were aqueous dispersions of colloidal silica (with particle diameters of d = 108 or 121 nm and particle volume fractions of ϕ = 0.035-0.

Gravitational compression dynamics of charged colloidal crystals.

We examine the compression of charged colloidal crystals under the influence of gravitational force by monitoring the spatiotemporal variations of Bragg diffraction from the crystal lattice. We use the dilute aqueous dispersions of colloidal silica particles (diameter=216 nm, charge number=733, a particle volume fraction φ=0.06) in the presence of 5-15 μM sodium chloride.

Exclusion of impurity particles during grain growth in charged colloidal crystals.

We examine the spatial distribution of fluorescent-labeled charged polystyrene (PS) particles (particle volume fraction ϕ = 0.0001 and 0.001, diameter d = 183 and 333 nm) added to colloidal crystals of charged silica particles (ϕ = ϕ(s) = 0.

Controlling profiles of polymer dots by switching between evaporation and condensation.

We found that the profiles of the dots formed from the drying droplets of polymer solution can be modified by switching between the evaporation and condensation processes. When a polymer dot is exposed to solvent vapor during a certain time and is dried again, the dot profile changes from ringlike to flat. To obtain a flat dot, there exists an optimal exposure time.

Controlling the drying and film formation processes of polymer solution droplets with addition of small amount of surfactants.

We studied how the addition of surfactants alters the drying and film formation processes of polymer solution droplets with contact lines strongly fixed by bank structures. We found that even if the amount of surfactant is quite small, it drastically changes the final profile of the polymer film from a ringlike profile to a flat profile. This property is observed commonly, irrespective of the polymer concentration, droplet volume, and type of solvent.

Final shape of a drying thin film.

Drying processes of polymer solutions on a solid substrate enclosed by bank are studied in the slow limit of the solvent evaporation. A simple model is proposed to examine the final shape of the film after drying. Analytical expressions of the final shape in terms of the initial parameters are obtained.

Effects of elasticity on drying processes of polymer solutions.

Drying processes of polymer solutions on a solid substrate are studied, based on the two-fluid model for polymer solutions or gels. A simplified model which can describe a skin formation process is proposed to examine the diffusion process of polymers and the evaporation process of solvent. The authors show that when a skin (gel phase) is formed, the collective diffusion coefficient is greatly enhanced whereas the evaporation of solvent is considerably reduced.

Simple model of skin formation caused by solvent evaporation in polymer solutions.

A simple model is proposed for the skin formation in the evaporation process of a polymer solution at a free surface. In this model the skin is regarded as a gel phase formed near the free surface, and the dynamics is described by a diffusion equation for the polymer concentration with moving boundaries. The equation is solved both analytically and numerically.

Theoretical modeling of photo-induced wave propagation in liquid-crystalline Langmuir monolayers.

A phenomenological model of wave propagation in photo-excited liquid-crystalline Langmuir monolayers is constructed. The spontaneous splay deformation of the liquid-crystalline order and the anisotropy of photo-excitation of molecules are taken into account in this model. Numerical simulations of the model well reproduce qualitative features of the wave propagation phenomenon observed in recent experiments.

Generation, propagation, and switching of orientational waves in photoexcited liquid-crystalline monolayers.

Photoinduced orientational waves in illuminated liquid-crystalline monolayers is one of the most remarkable far-from-equilibrium phenomena that systems of soft condensed matter exhibit. We model this behavior from a phenomenological point of view, taking the anisotropic photoexcitation of molecules into account. Numerical simulations as well as theoretical analyses of the model reveal that the intricate interplay between the spontaneous splay deformation of the liquid-crystalline order and the anisotropy of the photoexcitation can lead to the generation and propagation of orientational waves.