Shape-sensitive crystallization in colloidal superball fluids

ORAL

Abstract

Uniform colloidal silica superballs crystallize into a variety of ordered phases when depletant objects induce attraction between the colloids. The differences in these entropy-driven self-assembled structures are driven by minute deviations of the particle shape and are uniquely determined by an interplay between the size of depletants and superballs. Tuning this ratio allows to smooth the deviation in particle shape, allowing the observation of different depletion-stabilized crystalline structures for the same superball fluid.

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Authors

  • Laura Rossi

    Van't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Utrecht University, NL

  • Stefano Sacanna

    Center for Soft Matter research, New York University, USA

  • Vishal Soni

    James Franck institute, University of Chicago, USA

  • Paul Chaikin

    Center for Soft Matter research, New York University, USA, New York University

  • David Pine

    Center for Soft Matter research, New York University, USA

  • Albert Philipse

    Van't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Utrecht University, NL

  • William Irvine

    James Franck institute, University of Chicago, USA