Cyclic force driven colloidal self-assembly near a solid surface

Hypothesis: Self-assembled colloidal mobility out of a non-equilibrium system can depend on many external and interparticle forces including hydrodynamic forces. While the driving forces guiding colloidal suspension, translation and self-assembly are different and unique, hydrodynamic forces are always present and can significantly influence particle motion. Unfortunately, these interparticle hydrodynamic interactions are typically overlooked. Experiments: Here, we studied the collective behavior of colloidal particles (4.0 mm PMMA), located near the solid surface in a fluid medium confined in a cylindrical cell (3.0 mm diameter, 0.25 mm height) which was rotated vertically at a low rotational speed (20 rpm). The observed colloidal behavior was then validated through a Stokesian dynamics simulation where the concept of hydrodynamic contact force or lubrication interactions are avoided which is not physically intuitive and mathematically cumbersome. Rather, we adopted hard-sphere like colloidal collision or mobility model, while adopting other useful simplification and approximations. Findings: Upon particles settling in a circular orbit, they hydrodynamically interact with each other and evolve in different structures depending on the pattern of gravity forces. Their agglomeration is a function of the applied rotation scheme, either forming colloidal clusters or lanes. While evolving into dynamic structures, colloids also laterally migrate away from the surface. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study explores the collective behavior of colloidal particles in a non-equilibrium system, with a focus on the influence of external and interparticle forces, including hydrodynamic forces which are often overlooked. Experiment and simulation results show that the particles interact hydrodynamically in a rotating cylindrical cell, forming different structures and evolving based on gravity forces. The findings suggest that the rotation scheme plays a crucial role in determining the aggregation and motion of colloidal particles.