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Tuning the Colloidal Crystal Structure of Magnetic Particles by External Field |
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| Authors: | Dr Antara Pal Dr Vikash Malik Dr Le He Dr Ben H Erné Prof?Dr Yadong Yin Prof?Dr Willem K Kegel Dr Andrei V Petukhov |
| Institution: | 1. Van't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht (The Netherlands);2. Physics Department, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, 1900 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211 (USA);3. Department of Chemistry, University of California Riverside, 501 Big Springs Road, Riverside, California 92521 (USA) |
| Abstract: | Manipulation of the self‐assembly of magnetic colloidal particles by an externally applied magnetic field paves a way toward developing novel stimuli responsive photonic structures. Using microradian X‐ray scattering technique we have investigated the different crystal structures exhibited by self‐assembly of core–shell magnetite/silica nanoparticles. An external magnetic field was employed to tune the colloidal crystallization. We find that the equilibrium structure in absence of the field is random hexagonal close‐packed (RHCP) one. External field drives the self‐assembly toward a body‐centered tetragonal (BCT) structure. Our findings are in good agreement with simulation results on the assembly of these particles. |
| Keywords: | colloidal crystals core– shell nanoparticles magnetic field self‐assembly X‐ray scattering |