Journal
SOFT MATTER
Volume 8, Issue 3, Pages 707-714Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/c1sm06201h
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Funding
- NSF [MRSEC-0820492, DMR-0955776, PHY05-51164]
- NIH [R01AI080791]
- ACS-PRF [50558-DNI7]
- Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics
- Direct For Mathematical & Physical Scien
- Division Of Materials Research [0955776, 0820492] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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We combine simulations and experiments to elucidate the molecular forces leading to the assembly of two dimensional membrane-like structures composed of a one rod-length thick monolayer of aligned rods from an immiscible suspension of hard rods and depleting polymers. Computer simulations predict that monolayer membranes are thermodynamically stable above a critical rod aspect ratio and below a critical depletion interaction length scale. Outside of these conditions alternative structures such as stacked smectic columns or nematic droplets are thermodynamically stable. These predictions are confirmed by subsequent experiments using a model system of virus rod-like molecules and non-adsorbing polymer. Our work demonstrates that collective molecular protrusion fluctuations alone are sufficient to stabilize membranes composed of homogenous rods with simple excluded volume interactions.
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