Janus nematic colloids with designable valence

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

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.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Janus colloids, nematic liquid crystals, surface anchoring, valence
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2014
• Number of pages: Str. 4272-4281
• Numbering: Vol. 7, iss. 6
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-130818
• UDC: 544.25
• ISSN on article: 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma7064272
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2683236
• Publication date in RUL: 17.09.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Materials
• Shortened title: Materials
• Publisher: Molecular Diversity Preservation International
• ISSN: 1996-1944
• COBISS.SI-ID: 33588485

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• License: CC BY 3.0, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
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• Licensing start date: 30.05.2014