Geometry-guided colloidal interactions and self-tiling of elastic dipoles formed by truncated pyramid particles in liquid crystals. Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The progress of realizing colloidal structures mimicking natural forms of organization in condensed matter is inherently limited by the availability of suitable colloidal building blocks. To enable new forms of crystalline and quasicrystalline self-organization of colloids, we develop truncated pyramidal particles that form nematic elastic dipoles with long-range electrostaticlike and geometry-guided low-symmetry short-range interactions. Using a combination of nonlinear optical imaging, laser tweezers, and video microscopy, we characterize colloidal pair interactions and demonstrate unusual forms of self-tiling of these particles into crystalline, quasicrystalline, and other arrays. Our findings are explained using an electrostatics analogy along with liquid crystal elasticity and symmetry breaking considerations, potentially expanding photonic and electro-optic applications of colloids.

publication date

  • April 1, 2015

has restriction

  • bronze

Date in CU Experts

  • May 15, 2015 2:45 AM

Full Author List

  • Senyuk B; Liu Q; Bililign E; Nystrom PD; Smalyukh II

author count

  • 5

Other Profiles

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1550-2376

Additional Document Info

start page

  • 040501

volume

  • 91

issue

  • 4