Nematic-Wetted Colloids in the Isotropic Phase: Pairwise Interaction, Biaxiality and Defects

Abstract

We calculate the interaction between two spherical colloidal particles embedded in the isotropic phase of a nematogenic liquid. The surface of the particles induces wetting nematic coronas that mediate an elastic interaction. In the weak wetting regime, we obtain exact results for the interaction energy and the texture, showing that defects and biaxiality arise, although they are not topologically required. We evidence rich behaviors, including the possibility of reversible colloidal aggregation and dispersion. Complex anisotropic self-assembled phases might be formed in dense suspensions.

4 pages, 6 figures

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Colloidal dipolar interactions in 2D smectic C films
• Rheology of distorted nematic liquid crystals
• Interaction and flocculation of spherical colloids wetted by a surface-induced corona of paranematic order
• Exact calculations of the paranematic interaction energy for colloidal dispersions in the isotropic phase of a nematogenic material