Rigidity of colloidal alloys as studied by reflection spectroscopy in sedimentation equilibrium

Rigidities of colloidal alloys of binary mixtures of colloidal silica spheres (CS82; 103 nm in diameter) with larger silica spheres (CS91; 110 nm, CS121; 136 nm and CS161; 184 nm) have been measured by reflection spectroscopy in sedimentation equilibrium. Substitutional-solid-solution-type alloy structures are formed for mixtures of CS82 and CS91 and for CS82 and CS121. A superlattice, probably MgCu₂ type, is formed for CS82 and CS161 mixtures. The rigidities of the colloidal crystals of the single component of the spheres increase as the sphere size increases at the same number density of spheres. The rigidities of the colloidal alloys decrease when a comparatively small number of the larger spheres are mixed with the small spheres at the same total sphere number density. Received: 14 June 2000 Accepted: 3 November 2000