Dipolar depletion : study of a field tunable colloid-polymer solution

In a colloid-polymer mixture, the addition of non-adsorbing polymer can control the magnitude as well as the range of an effective attraction between micron-sized colloidal particles. In such a system, various phases, including network-forming gels, can be observed. With tunable interactions, such systems could also be used for the studies of phase transition kinetics. An externally controllable tunable interaction can be achieved by the application of an external ac electric field. While the gas-liquid transition has been extensively studied, and transitions to various gel and glass states have been observed, a field would enable controlled crossings of phase boundaries. The external ac electric field induces dipolar interactions in the colloidal suspension, which is an important driving force for nanoparticle self-organization. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Anand Yethiraj

Student:

Partner:

Utrecht University (Mexico)

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Technology; Nanotechnology; Other

University:

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Program: