Localization to delocalization transitions in size asymmetric mixtures of colloidal particles with grafted chains

We study binary systems of polymer-grafted colloidal particles, in which the diameter of one species is substantially larger than the other. It has recently been shown [1] that, in these systems, the larger colloids order to form a lattice while the smaller ones may form a sublattice or delocalize within the interstitial space, depending on system parameters. We develop a simplified molecular dynamics model to study these colloidal systems and the nature of the delocalization of the smaller species under varied conditions. Using this model, we explore phase transitions between different lattice and sublattice types as a function of temperature.
[1] M Girard et al., Science 364, 1174–1178 (2019)