Janus nematic colloids with designable valence

Simon Čopar (Author), Miha Ravnik (Author), Slobodan Žumer (Author)

Abstract

Generalized Janus nematic colloids based on various morphologies of particle surface patches imposing homeotropic and planar surface anchoring are demonstrated. By using mesoscopic numerical modeling, multiple types of Janus particles are explored, demonstrating a variety of novel complex colloidal structures. We also show binding of Janus particles to a fixed Janus post in the nematic cell, which acts as a seed and a micro-anchor for the colloidal structure. Janus colloidal structures reveal diverse topological defect configurations, which are effectively combinations of surface boojum and bulk defects. Topological analysis is applied to defects, importantly showing that topological charge is not a well determined topological invariant in such patchy nematic Janus colloids. Finally, this work demonstrates colloidal structures with designable valence, which could allow for targeted and valence-conditioned self-assembly at micro- and nano-scale.

Keywords

nematic liquid crystals;Janus colloids;surface anchoring;valence;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2014
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
UDC:	544.25
COBISS:	2683236
ISSN:	1996-1944
Views:	159
Downloads:	57
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 4272-4281
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ7
Issue:	ǂiss. ǂ6
Chronology:	2014
DOI:	10.3390/ma7064272
ID:	13359924