Tunable Colloids in external rotating electric or magnetic fields

Abstract

This report will present an overview of our work with tunable colloids. Using an external rotating electric or magnetic field, it becomes possible to generate interparticle interactions in colloidal systems of microparticles. By tuning the field parameters, such as magnitude and frequency, it is possible to achieve the required values of interparticle forces, which in turn will lead to self-assembly.
Thus, colloidal suspensions in external fields are a "laboratory on the table". By controlling self-assembly, it is possible to bring the system into gas-, liquid- and solid-like states, as well as observe all phase transitions between these states.
The colloidal system itself is microparticles (usually silicon dioxide) ranging in size from 1 to 10 μm, in deionized water. This range of particle sizes allows the use of optical microscopy to visualize the processes.
The report will demonstrate the experimental technique of interaction control using electric fields, as well as the setup itself, and experimental results on self-assembly of colloidal crystals. In addition, the technique of interaction control using conical magnetic fields will be demonstrated, as well as the results on self-assembly of planar, vertical, and quasi-two-dimensional colloidal structures.
We believe that the results of our work will be of interest for various applications, including the creation of photonic and biomaterials.
The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Grant No. 22-72-10128.

Speaker

Anastasiya A. Shirokova
Bauman Moscow State Technical University, 2nd Baumanskaya street 5, Moscow, 105005, Russia
Russia

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