Isotropic-to-nematic nucleation in suspensions of colloidal rods

被引:30
作者
Cuetos, Alejandro [1 ]
van Roij, Rene [2 ]
Dijkstra, Marjolein [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Utrecht, Debye Inst Nano Mat Sci, NL-3584 CC Utrecht, Netherlands
[2] Univ Utrecht, Inst Theoret Phys, NL-3584 CE Utrecht, Netherlands
关键词
D O I
10.1039/b715764a
中图分类号
O64 [物理化学(理论化学)、化学物理学];
学科分类号
070304 ; 081704 ;
摘要
Using computer simulations, we study the isotropic-to-nematic nucleation in a fluid of colloidal hard rods as well as in a mixture of colloidal rods and non-adsorbing polymer. In order to follow the transformation of the system from the isotropic to the nematic phase, we use a new cluster criterion that enables us to distinguish the nematic clusters from the isotropic fluid phase. Applying this criterion in Monte Carlo simulations, we find two different regimes depending on the supersaturation. At low supersaturation we find nucleation and growth, while at higher supersaturation spinodal decomposition is observed. We determine the height of the nucleation barrier, and we study the structure as well as the shape of the nematic clusters. We discuss our simulation results in the light of classical nucleation theory.
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页码:757 / 767
页数:11
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