Abstract
Chapter 3 reviews recent advancements of the study of colloidal crystals (especially soft-type crystals in deionized aqueous suspension). Lattice structure, morphologic characteristics, crystallization kinetics, physicochemical properties, and applications of colloidal crystals are reviewed. Colloidal crystals are really crystals, not liquids, although they are in a suspension state. Rigidity, viscosity, viscoelasticity, structural relaxation time, external field effects, and other factors are also reviewed. Microgravity experiments of colloidal crystals are discussed. Giant colloidal single crystals form in the exhaustively deionized aqueous suspension. The important role of electrical double layers and the interparticle repulsion for crystallization is discussed. Colloidal crystals are similar to typical crystals (e.g., metals, proteins, and ice) in their structure, morphologic characteristics, and kinetics, although the interparticle interactions—repulsion and attraction, respectively—are essentially different.
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