Alloys of Suspended Colloidal Donuts and Spheres

ORAL

Abstract

We present a study of the structure of mixed dispersions, or ``alloys'', of colloidal donuts and spheres. By contrast to previous studies of colloidal alloys, this study allows for the investigation of how the possible penetration of one species through a hole in another can alter the structures. Three different regimes have been investigated: when the diameter of the donut's hole is much larger than, equal to, and significantly smaller than the sphere's diameter. In the case when the spheres are slightly smaller than the holes, interpenetrating particle configurations are possible, and the spheres can explore a larger positional phase space. In this case, we report the variation of these structures with respect to the two independent volume fractions of spheres and of donuts.

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Authors

  • Thomas Mason

    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California- Los Angeles, UCLA, University of California- Los Angeles

  • Carlos Hernandez

    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California- Los Angeles

  • C.K. Harrison

    Schlumberger-Doll Research

  • P.M. Chaikin

    Department of Physics, Princeton University, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, Physics, Princeton, Princeton University, Princeton Univ., Physics Department, Princeton University, Physics, Princeton University, Physics Dept., Princeton Univ.