ICMCS Seminar - Impact of particle-size polydispersity on colloidal crystallization and thin-film structures
ICMCS Seminar - Impact of particle-size polydispersity on colloidal crystallization and thin-film structures
- Event time: 4:00pm until 5:00pm
- Event date: 12th May 2025
- Speaker: Ms Mariam Arif (School of Physics & Astronomy)
- Location: James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) 2511 James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Title: Impact of particle-size polydispersity on colloidal crystallization and thin-film structures
Abstract: The synthesis of colloids is frequently challenged by the difficulty of producing monodisperse particles. Size disparity in colloidal particles can disrupt order in their assemblies, ultimately leading to a complete suppression of crystallization. In this talk, I will present a systematic experimental investigation into how size polydispersity affects the 2D and 3D structures of colloidal crystals grown as thin films through vertical drying. Surprisingly, we do not observe a gradual decline in 2D local order but two sharp drops at 8% and 12% polydispersity, indicating the presence of both 2D and 3D crystallization regimes in the system. By showing that assembly quality improves from the bottom up, we suggest that 3D crystallization our system resembles epitaxial growth. We also examine whether this crystallization process involves size fractionation. To broaden the picture, we explore how polydispersity influences crystallization in bulk samples. Lastly, I will discuss a second form of polydispersity-driven structural evolution: the emergence of distinct cracking patterns in the dried films. These insights help define the limits for achieving ordered colloidal crystals and shed light on assembly mechanisms in vertical drying, where direct observation of the crystallization process is experimentally challenging.
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https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81211470751
Meeting ID: 812 1147 0751
Passcode: ICMCS123
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Meeting ID: 812 1147 0751
Passcode: 25173582
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About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars
This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..