Liquid Crystal Phases of Charged Colloidal Platelets

摘要: The liquid crystal phase behavior of a suspension charged gibbsite [Al(OH)3] platelets is investigated. By variation the ionic strength, we are able to tune effective thickness-to-diameter ratio in suspension. This enables us experimentally test transition scenario that was first predicted decade ago by computer simulations for hard (Veerman, J. A. C.; Frenkel, D. Phys. Rev. A 1992, 45, 5632), is, isotropic (I) nematic (N) and columnar (C) transitions one colloidal In addition shape-dependent thermodynamic driving force, effect gravity important. For example, biphasic (I−N) becomes triphasic (I−N−C) on prolonged standing. described simple osmotic compression model.