AI Article Synopsis
- Colloidal particles at fluid interfaces and films can form highly ordered structures due to interactions like capillarity and elasticity, especially in smectic-A films.
- The study focuses on how microparticle interactions impact particle assembly in these films, leading to new 1D and 2D patterns influenced by initial wetting conditions.
- The findings suggest potential applications for using liquid crystal interfaces to create materials that can spontaneously reconfigure and have optical properties.
Article Abstract
Colloidal particles at complex fluid interfaces and within films assemble to form ordered structures with high degrees of symmetry via interactions that include capillarity, elasticity, and other fields like electrostatic charge. Here we study microparticle interactions within free-standing smectic-A films, in which the elasticity arising from the director field distortion and capillary interactions arising from interface deformation compete to direct the assembly of motile particles. New colloidal assemblies and patterns, ranging from 1D chains to 2D aggregates, sensitive to the initial wetting conditions of particles at the smectic film, are reported. This work paves the way to exploiting LC interfaces as a means to direct spontaneously formed, reconfigurable, and optically active materials.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03351 | DOI Listing |
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