Simulation method of colloidal suspensions with hydrodynamic interactions: fluid particle dynamics

We develop a new simulation method of colloidal suspensions, which we call a "fluid particle dynamics" (FPD) method. This FPD method, which treats a colloid as a fluid particle, removes the difficulties stemming from a solid-fluid boundary condition in the treatment of hydrodynamic interactions between the particles. The importance of interparticle hydrodynamic interactions in the aggregation process of colloidal particles is demonstrated as an example. This method can be applied to a wide range of problems in colloidal science.     

Simulating (electro)hydrodynamic effects in colloidal dispersions: Smoothed profile method

Previously, we have proposed a direct simulation scheme for colloidal dispersions in a Newtonian solvent (Phys. Rev. E 71, 036707 (2005)). An improved formulation called the “Smoothed Profile (SP) method” is presented here in which simultaneous time-marching is used for the host fluid and colloids. The SP method is a direct numerical simulation of particulate flows and provides a coupling scheme between the continuum fluid dynamics and rigid-body dynamics through utilization of a smoothed profile for the colloidal particles. Moreover, the improved formulation includes an extension to incorporate multi-component fluids, allowing systems such as charged colloids in electrolyte solutions to be studied. The dynamics of the colloidal dispersions are solved with the same computational cost as required for solving non-particulate flows. Numerical results which assess the hydrodynamic interactions of colloidal dispersions are presented to validate the SP method. The SP method is not restricted to particular constitutive models of the host fluids and can hence be applied to colloidal dispersions in complex fluids.     

Direct measurement of entropic forces induced by rigid rods

We present the first direct depletion potential measurements for a single colloidal sphere close to a wall in a suspension of rigid colloidal rods. Since all particle interactions are as good as hard-core-like, the depletion potentials are of entirely entropic origin. We developed a density functional theory approach that accurately accounts for this experimental situation. The depletion potentials calculated for different rod number densities are in very good quantitative agreement with the experimental results.     

Basic physics of colloidal plasmas

Colloidal plasma is a distinct class of the impure plasmas with multispecies ionic composition. The distinction lies in the phase distribution of the impurity-ion species. The ability to tailor the electrostatic interactions between these colloidal particles provides a fertile ground for scientists to investigate the fundamental aspects of the Coulomb phase transition behavior. The present contribution will review the basic physics of the charging mechanism of the colloidal particles as well as the physics of the collective normal mode behavior of the general multi-ion species plasmas. Emphasis will be laid on the clarification of the prevailing confusing ideas about distinct qualities of the various acoustic modes, which are likely to exist in colloidal plasmas as well as in normal multi-ion species plasmas. Introductory ideas about the proposed physical models for the Coulomb phase transition in colloidal plasma will also be discussed. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Long-range depletion forces induced by associating small molecules

This is the first report of experimental observations of depletion interactions in solutions of a (hydrogen-bonded) reversible supramolecular polymer. Depletion forces were measured directly by colloidal probe atomic force microscopy. The range of the depletion force is consistent with existing independent experimental data. The interaction can be tuned by adding monofunctional chain stoppers to the solution, a possibility which is unique to supramolecular polymers. The depletion force is shown to be strong enough to induce phase separation in a colloidal suspension.     

The configurational space of colloidal patchy polymers with heterogeneous sequences

In this work we characterize the configurational space of a short chain of colloidal particles as a function of the range of directional and heterogeneous isotropic interactions. The individual particles forming the chain are colloids decorated with patches that act as interaction sites between them. We show, using computer simulations, that it is possible to sample the relative probability of occurrence of a structure with a sequence in the space of all possible realizations of the chain. The results presented here represent a first attempt to map the space of possible configurations that a chain of colloidal particles may adopt. Knowledge of such a space is crucial for a possible application of colloidal chains as models for designable self-assembling systems.     

Phoretic self-assembly of active colloidal molecules

We simulate the self-assembly of active colloidal molecules from binary mixtures of spherical particles using a Brownian dynamics algorithm. These particles interact via phoretic interactions, which are determined by two independently tunable parameters, surface activity and surface mobility. In systems composed of equal-size particles, we observe the formation of colloidal molecules with well-defined coordination numbers and spatial arrangement, which also display distinct dynamic functions, such as resting, translating, and rotating. By changing the size ratio to 2 : 1 between the two species,we further observe the formation of colloidal molecules with new structures arising from breaking the size symmetry. By tuning the mutual interactions between the smaller species via their surface mobility, we are able to control their spacing as well as the coordination number of the colloidal molecules. This study highlights the importance of tuning surface parameters and size asymmetry in controlling the structure and the active dynamics of colloidal molecules.     

The Colloidal Probe Technique and its Application to Adhesion Force Measurements

Knowledge of the interaction forces between colloidal particles and surfaces is a precondition for understanding the stability of dispersed systems and adhesion phenomena. One of the methods available for direct measurement of surface forces is the atomic force microscope (AFM). Based on this method the so called “colloidal probe technique” was developed more than 10 years ago. Using a micron‐sized particle glued to the end of an AFM cantilever as the force sensor, this technique is predestined for the study of colloidal interactions. In this review we describe the colloidal probe technique and give an overview of its application in the field of adhesion forces.     

Colloidal crystal growth at externally imposed nucleation clusters

We study the conditions under which and how an imposed cluster of fixed colloidal particles at prescribed positions triggers crystal nucleation from a metastable colloidal fluid. Dynamical density functional theory of freezing and Brownian dynamics simulations are applied to a two-dimensional colloidal system with dipolar interactions. The externally imposed nucleation clusters involve colloidal particles either on a rhombic lattice or along two linear arrays separated by a gap. Crystal growth occurs after the peaks of the nucleation cluster have first relaxed to a cutout of the stable bulk crystal.     

Colloidal aggregation in a nematic liquid crystal: topological arrest of particles by a single-stroke disclination line

We numerically study many-body interactions among colloidal particles suspended in a nematic liquid crystal, using a fluid particle dynamics method, which properly incorporates dynamical coupling among particles, nematic orientation, and flow field. Based on simulation results, we propose a new type of interparticle interaction in addition to well-known quadrupolar interaction for particles accompanying Saturn-ring defects. This interaction is mediated by the defect of the nematic phase: upon nematic ordering, a closed disclination loop binds more than two particles to form a sheetlike dynamically arrested structure. The interaction depends upon the topology of a disclination loop binding particles, which is determined by aggregation history.     

电解质浓度对胶体粒子表面有效电荷的影响

胶体粒子的表面有效电荷是决定胶体性质的重要物理量,但溶液环境(如电解质溶液浓度)是否影响其数值至今尚无统一认识,近年来的一些研究工作给出了存在争议的不同结果和假设.在直接实验测量方面,由于电解质离子和胶体表面吸附离子的置换,粒子表面基团的不完全电离和胶体粒子对离子吸附的共同作用,使得对这类粒子在不同溶液环境下的表面有效电荷的测量和变化机理的认识极为困难.针对该问题,本文测定了羧基和磺酸基修饰的聚苯乙烯胶体颗粒在不同粒子浓度和HCl浓度下的电导率,由于两种粒子与HCl电离产生的阳离子相同(均为H+),可根据电导率-数密度法(迁移法)得到胶体颗粒表面有效电荷数.通过实验结果分析,明确了HCl浓度以及粒子数密度对胶体粒子表面电荷的影响规律以及表面电荷随HCl浓度增大的原因.除此之外,羧基修饰颗粒比磺酸基修饰颗粒的表面电荷随HCl浓度变化更快;对于同一HCl浓度,磺酸基修饰胶体表面电荷不受粒子数密度影响,而羧基修饰胶体颗粒却与之相关.基于粒子表面电荷的理论模型,对这些问题都给出了相应的解释.     

Phase equilibria and transport in polymer colloids

Colloidal dispersions of uniform spherical particles, achievable through special emulsion polymerization techniques, show order-disorder transitions in which the ordered phase consists of particles spaced on a close-packed lattice. This colloidal phenomenon is an example of condensation of a hard-sphere gas, the so-called Kirkwood-Alder transition. The colloid transition can be simulated by using the DLVO pair potential either in numerical integration of Newton's equations o r in a Monte Carlo method. Although suitable for equilibrium properties, these methods can not yield transport properties of colloids, due to neglect of interactions between particle and medium, Substitution of Langevin's equation for Newton's introduces both frictional and stochastic forces on the particles. Computer simulation of particle motions by integration of Langevin's equation yields correct equilibrium properties, and permits the calculation of transport properties as well. Some results of computer simulation of diffusion are presented.     

Depolarized light scattering from interacting brownian spheres

The initial decay time of the spectrum and the integrated intensity of depolarized light scattered from a system of interacting spherical and optically isotropic colloidal particles as a function of scattering angle is calculated in the double scattering approximation. These quantities can be reduced in the short-time regime to the static structure factor of single scattering, as observed in polarized scattering for systems of intermediate concentrations of colloidal particles. The results are applied to charged polysterene spheres in solutions and it is shown by numerical calculations that the presence of interactions can modify the angular dependence of initial decay time and integrated intensity considerably.     

Manipulating the self assembly of colloids in electric fields

During the last decade the focus in colloid science on self-assembly has moved from mostly spherical particles and interaction potentials to more and more complex particle shapes, interactions and conditions. In this minireview we focus on how external electric fields, which in almost all cases can be replaced by magnetic particles and fields for similar effects, are used to manipulate the self-assembly process of ever more complex colloids. We will illustrate typical results from literature next to examples of our own work on how electric fields are used to achieve a broad range of different effects guiding the self-assembly of colloidal dispersions. In addition, preliminary measurements and calculations on how electric fields can be used to induce lock-and-key interactions will be presented as well.     

胶体晶体和基于胶体晶体的纳米结构

胶体晶体及基于胶体晶体的各种纳米结构的制备和物理性质是近来物理学和材料科学共同关注的一个热点，文章简要阐述了胶体颗粒间的基本相互作用，着重介绍了各种胶体晶体的制备方法；结合我们近期的工作，综合评述了胶体晶体在二维纳米颗粒阵列、二维有序孔单层膜及三维光子晶体等纳米结构材料研究中的应用，并对未来的发展进行了展望。     

Entangled nematic colloidal dimers and wires

It has been predicted, but never confirmed, that colloidal particles in a nematic liquid crystal could be self-assembled by delocalized topological defects and entangled disclinations. We show experimentally and theoretically that colloidal dimers and 1D structures bound by entangled topological defect loops can indeed be created by locally thermally quenching a thin layer of the nematic liquid crystal around selected colloidal particles. The topological entanglement provides a strong stringlike binding, which is ten thousand times stronger compared to water-based colloids. This unique binding mechanism could be used to assemble resonator optical waveguides and robust chiral and achiral structures of topologically entangled colloids that we call colloidal wires.     

THE COMPOSITE PARTICLE REPRESEPITATION THEORY

Based on the composite particle representation presented in the last paper(I),a method of solving the many-body problem knpwn as the compqsite particle approximation is proposed.It is shown that a many-body system can be simplified to a composite particle system (plus one or more uncorrelated basic particles if any existed) if the following conditions are satisfied:1) the binding energies of the composite particles are much larger than the excitation energies of the system; 2)there is domination of the collective mode for the composite particles.The interac-tions between the composite particles,,as well as the interactions between composite particles and the basic particles can be evaluated from the original particle-particle interactions. Applications of this theory are indicated.     

Dynamical density functional theory with hydrodynamic interactions and colloids in unstable traps

A density functional theory for colloidal dynamics is presented which includes hydrodynamic interactions between the colloidal particles. The theory is applied to the dynamics of colloidal particles in an optical trap which switches periodically in time from a stable to an unstable confining potential. In the absence of hydrodynamic interactions, the resulting density breathing mode exhibits huge single peaked oscillations in the trap center which become double peaked and damped by hydrodynamic interactions. The predicted dynamical density fields are in good agreement with Brownian dynamics computer simulations.     

Characterization of Nanoparticles by Scattering Techniques

Basic principles and applications of different scattering techniques (including static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS)) on the characterization of nanoparticles are reviewed in this paper. By choosing a suitable scattering technique or a combination of different techniques for nanoparticle characterization, the particles' molecular weight, radius of gyration, hydrodynamic radius, size distribution, shape and internal structure as well as interparticle interactions of nanoparticles, can be determined. Examples including some sophisticated colloidal systems are presented.