Interactions between pentagonal truncated pyramids with homeotropic anchoring in a nematic liquid crystal

In this study, we numerically investigate the interactions between pentagonal truncated pyramids in a nematic liquid crystal host. The colloidal arrangements are investigated by minimizing the Landau-de Gennes free energy in presence of homeotropic anchoring surface energy upon the particles. We further explain the interactions using symmetry breaking in the director field and particle-particle relative arrangements. In the case of long-range separations, interactions exhibit some deviations from those observed in the case of dipolar symmetry. We also exhibit that, in some cases, decreasing the bending elastic distortions between two adjacent lateral faces will cause a nonhorizontal side-to-side configuration. In many-body interactions, we evaluate the ability of the bent and branch configurations to form complex self-tiling assemblies pentagonal truncated pyramid blocks.