core-shell theory paper v4.pdf (2.77 MB)
Pattern formation in two-dimensional hard-core/soft-shell systems with variable soft shell profiles
journal contribution
posted on 2020-03-16, 11:20 authored by Walter RC Somerville, Adam D Law, Marcel Rey, Nicolas Vogel, Andrew ArcherAndrew Archer, D Martin A BuzzaHard-core/soft shell (HCSS) particles have been shown to self-assemble into a
remarkably rich variety of structures under compression due to the simple
interplay between the hard-core and soft-shoulder length scales in their
interactions. Most studies in this area model the soft shell interaction as a
square shoulder potential. Although appealing from a theoretical point of view,
the potential is physically unrealistic because there is no repulsive force in
the soft shell regime, unlike in experimental HCSS systems. To make the model
more realistic, here we consider HCSS particles with a range soft shell
potential profiles beyond the standard square shoulder form and study the model
using both minimum energy calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. We find
that by tuning density and the soft shell profile, HCSS particles in the thin
shell regime (i.e., shell to core ratio $r_1/r_0 \leq \sqrt{3}$) can form a
large range of structures, including hexagons, chains, squares, rhomboids and
two distinct zig-zag structures. Furthermore, by tuning the density and
$r_1/r_0$, we find that HCSS particles with experimentally realistic linear
ramp soft shoulder repulsions can form honeycombs and quasicrystals with
10-fold and 12-fold symmetry. Our study therefore suggests the exciting
possibility of fabricating these exotic 2D structures experimentally through
colloidal self-assembly.
Funding
EPSRC (Grant number EP/L025078/1)
European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 861950, project POSEIDON
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (grant number VO 1824/6-1)
EPSRC (Grant number EP/P015689/1 Quasicrystals: how and why do they form?).
History
School
- Science
Department
- Mathematical Sciences
Published in
Soft MatterVolume
16Issue
14Pages
3564 - 3573Publisher
Royal Society of ChemistryVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Rights holder
© The Royal Society of ChemistryPublisher statement
This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Soft Matter and the definitive published version is available https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SM00092BAcceptance date
2020-03-10Publication date
2020-03-11Copyright date
2020Notes
12 pages, 7 figuresISSN
1744-683XeISSN
1744-6848Publisher version
Language
- en
Depositor
Prof Andrew Archer. Deposit date: 14 March 2020Usage metrics
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