Directed Self-assembly of Colloidal Particles on a Blue Phase I Interface

ORAL

Abstract

Blue phases are liquid states of matter with a highly ordered defect structure which confers unique properties among complex fluids. In this work, a free energy model of chiral liquid crystals is used to consider the self-assembly of colloids and nanoparticles on the interface of a Blue Phase I. It is shown that the crystalline defect structure of the blue phase produces intricate, two-dimensional hexagonal and Kagome structures among the nanoparticle arrangements, with lattice parameters that depend on the type of anchoring of the liquid crystal at the particle’s surface. These parameters can be tuned via the chirality of the material, thereby offering intriguing possibilities for the creation of hierarchical materials based on the directed assembly of particles in chiral liquid crystals.

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Authors

  • Jose Martinez-Gonzalez

    Univ of Chicago

  • Ye Zhou

    Institute for Molecular Engineering. University of Chicago, Univ of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, University of Chicago

  • Monirosadat Sadati

    The University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, IME, UChicago, Univ of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago

  • Nicholas Abbott

    Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin

  • Juan de Pablo

    The University of Chicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering, Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, University of Chicago, IME, UChicago, Institute for Molecular Engineering. University of Chicago. Argonne National Laboratory., Univ of Chicago