Dielectric Colloids Research Articles

Effect of the Surface Charge-Dependent Boundary Slip on the Electrophoresis of a Hydrophobic Polarizable Rigid Colloid.

The electrophoresis of a hydrophobic charged rigid colloid is studied by considering the lateral movement of the adsorbed surface charge. The slip velocity condition at the hydrophobic surface is modified to take into account the impact of the frictional and electric forces created by the adsorbed laterally mobile surface charge. Though the dependency of the surface charge on the slip velocity in the context of electrophoresis has been addressed before, the effect of the laterally mobile adsorbed surface charge on the electrophoresis of hydrophobic colloids has not been studied. The dielectric colloid is considered to polarize and create an induced immobile surface charge when subjected to an imposed electric field. The impact of the mobile surface charge along with the immobile induced surface charge on electrophoresis of a hydrophobic colloid is elucidated by numerically solving the governing electrokinetic equations in their full form. We have also developed a simplified model under a weak applied field consideration, which can be further reduced to a closed-form analytic expression for the mobility under the Debye-Hückel approximation. This analytic model for mobility is in excellent agreement with the exact numerical solution for an entire range of the Debye length when the ζ-potential is in the order of the thermal potential. One of the notable features of this closed-form mobility expression is that it accounts for the mobile adsorbed surface charge on the hydrodynamic slip condition and the dielectric polarization of the particle. We find that the mobility of the surface charge decreases the electrophoretic mobility of the hydrophobic dielectric colloid. However, the mobile surface charge enhances the mobility of a conducting hydrophobic colloid.

Electrokinetic actuation of an uncharged polarizable dielectric droplet in charged hydrogel medium.

Electrokinetic transport of an uncharged nonconducting microsized liquid droplet in a charged hydrogel medium is studied. Dielectric polarization of the liquid drop under the action of an externally imposed electric field induces a non-homogeneous charge density at the droplet surface. The interactions of the induced surface charge of the droplet with the immobile charges of the hydrogel medium generates an electric force to the droplet, which actuates the drop through the charged hydrogel medium. A numerical study based on the first principle of electrokinetics is adopted. Dependence of the droplet velocity on its dielectric permittivity, bulk ionic concentration, and immobile charge density of the gel is analyzed. The surface conduction is significant in presence of charged gel, which creates a concentration polarization. The impact of the counterion saturation in the Debye layer due to the dielectric decrement of the medium is addressed. The modified Nernst-Planck equation for ion transport and the Poisson equation for the electric field is considered to take into account the dielectric polarization. A quadrupolar vortex around the uncharged droplet is observed when the gel medium is considered to be uncharged, which is similar to the induced charge electroosmosis around an uncharged dielectric colloid in free-solution. We find that the induced charge electrokinetic mechanism creates a strong recirculation of liquid within the droplet and the translational velocity of the droplet strongly depends on its size for the dielectric droplet embedded in a charged gelmedium.

Colloid Metamaterials: Three‐dimensional Random Dielectric Colloid Metamaterial with Giant Isotropic Optical Activity (Laser Photonics Rev. 14(10)/2020)

Colloid Metamaterials: Three‐dimensional Random Dielectric Colloid Metamaterial with Giant Isotropic Optical Activity (Laser Photonics Rev. 14(10)/2020)

Efficient dynamic simulations of charged dielectric colloids through a novel hybrid method.

Modern particle-based simulations increasingly incorporate polarization charges arising from spatially nonuniform permittivity. For complex dielectric geometries, calculation of these induced many-body effects typically requires numerical solvers based upon boundary-element methods, which very significantly increase the required computational effort. For the special case of dielectric spheres, such as colloids or nanoparticles, we recently proposed a semianalytical spectrally accurate hybrid method that combines the method of moments, the image-charge method, and the fast multipole method. The hybrid method is efficient and accurate even when dielectric spheres are closely packed. Here, we extend the method to the evaluation of direct and induced electrostatic forces and demonstrate how this can be incorporated in molecular dynamics simulations. The choice of the relevant numerical parameters for molecular dynamics simulations is discussed in detail, as well as comparisons to the boundary-element method. As a concrete example, we examine the challenging case of binary crystal structures composed of close-packed dielectric colloidal spheres.

Electrohydrodynamic fibrillation governed enhanced thermal transport in dielectric colloids under a field stimulus.

Electrorheological (ER) fluids are known to exhibit enhanced viscous effects under an electric field stimulus. The present article reports the hitherto unreported phenomenon of greatly enhanced thermal conductivity in such electro-active colloidal dispersions in the presence of an externally applied electric field. Typical ER fluids are synthesized employing dielectric fluids and nanoparticles and experiments are performed employing an in-house designed setup. Greatly augmented thermal conductivity under a field's influence was observed. Enhanced thermal conduction along the fibril structures under the field effect is theorized as the crux of the mechanism. The formation of fibril structures has also been experimentally verified employing microscopy. Based on classical models for ER fluids, a mathematical formalism has been developed to predict the propensity of chain formation and statistically feasible chain dynamics at given Mason numbers. Further, a thermal resistance network model is employed to computationally predict the enhanced thermal conduction across the fibrillary colloid microstructure. Good agreement between the mathematical model and the experimental observations is achieved. The domineering role of thermal conductivity over relative permittivity has been shown by proposing a modified Hashin-Shtrikman (HS) formalism. The findings have implications towards better physical understanding and design of ER fluids from both 'smart' viscoelastic as well as thermally active materials points of view.

Experimental observation of sharp cavity plasmon resonances in dielectric-metal core-shell resonators

We report on the experimental realization of dielectric-metal core-shell resonators with a nearly perfect metal shell layer by physically depositing metal onto the self-supporting dielectric colloids. Sharp electric and magnetic-based cavity plasmon resonances are experimentally observed, whereas increasing the metal shell thickness increases their Q-factors while narrowing their linewidths. In particular, a high Q-factor up to ∼100 with a correspondingly narrow linewidth down to ∼12 nm is experimentally obtained at a dipolar magnetic cavity plasmon resonance. Simulations and analytical Mie calculations show excellent agreements with the experimental results and demonstrate strong optical field confinement of such three-dimensional resonators.

Self-Assembly of Colloidal Superstructures in Coherently Fluctuating Fields

From microscopic fluid clusters to macroscopic droplets, the structure of fluids is governed by the van der Waals force, a force that acts between polarizable objects. In this Letter, we derive a general theory that describes the nonequilibrium counterpart to the van der Waals force, which emerges in spatially coherently fluctuating electromagnetic fields. We describe the formation of a novel and complex hierarchy of self-organized morphologies in magnetic and dielectric colloid systems. Most striking among these morphologies are dipolar foams--colloidal superstructures that swell against gravity and display a high sensitivity to the applied field. We discuss the dominance of many-body forces and derive the equation of state for a material formed by the coherent van der Waals force. Our theory is applied to recent experiments in paramagnetic colloidal systems and a new experiment is suggested to test the theory.

Inside Back Cover: Colloidal Analogues of Charged and Uncharged Polymer Chains with Tunable Stiffness (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 45/2012)

Colloidal analogues of (bio)polymer chains with tunable flexibility can be prepared from dielectric colloids by using a combination of electric fields and a simple bonding step, as described by H. R. Vutukuri, A. van Blaaderen, et al. in their Communication on page 11249 ff. These model systems can be used to study the classic bead-spring and bead-rod model systems for (semi)flexible and rigid polymers, respectively, in real space and in real time on the monomer level.

Electric-field induced phase transitions of dielectric colloids: Impact of multiparticle effects

The thermodynamic framework for predicting the electric-field induced fluid like-solid like phase transition of dielectric colloids developed by Khusid and Acrivos [Phys. Rev. E. 54, 5428 (1996)] is extended to examine the impact of multiscattering/multiparticle effects on the resulting phase diagrams. This was accomplished using effective permittivity models suitable both over the entire composition region for hard spheres (0≤c<cmax) and for multiple types of solid packing structures (random close-packed structure, FCC, BCC). The Sihvola-Kong model and the self-consistent permittivity model of Sen et al. [Geophysics 46, 781 (1981)] were used to generate the coexistence (slow phase transition) and spinodal (rapid phase transition) boundaries for the system and compared to assuming Maxwell-Garnett permittivity. It was found that for larger dielectric contrasts between medium and particle that the impact of accounting for multiscattering effects increased and that there was a significant shift in the resulting phase diagrams. Results obtained for model colloidal systems of silica-dimethylsulfoxide and silica-isopropanol showed that critical electric field strength required for phase transitions could rise by up to approximately 20% when considering multiparticle effects versus the isolated dipole case. The impact of multiparticle effects on the phase diagrams was not only limited purely to the direct effect of volume fraction on permittivity and particle dipoles but also on the curvature of the volume fraction dependence. This work stresses the importance of accounting for particle effects on the polarization of colloidal suspensions, which has large implications for predicting the behavior of electrorheological fluids and other electric-field driven phenomena.

A general method for synthesis continuous silver nanoshells on dielectric colloids

A method for the controlled synthesis of silver nanoshells on various dielectric colloids, such as silica and polystyrene is presented in this study. The complexation of triethanolamine and silver ions is applied here to moderate the availability of the silver ions in the reaction solution, which directly affect the coating process. The morphologies of the particles were studied with transmission electron microscopy and their crystallinity and chemical composition were confirmed by X-ray and electron diffraction. The synthesis conditions were investigated and experimental results show that compact silver shells with easily controlled thickness can be deposited on dielectric cores by this method.

A Precursor Route for the Preparation of Metal–Dielectric Composite in Large Scale

Abstract In this paper, a novel method based on formation of a precursor was developed to fabricate metal–dielectric colloids in large scale. Metal nanoparticles formed in situ on the surface of the polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified dielectric colloids.

Accelerated thermal aging of petroleum-based ferrofluids

The effect of elevated temperature on the physical and insulating properties of ferrofluid specifically developed for use as a liquid dielectric (D-fluid) for power transformers has been investigated. The D-fluid was produced as a colloidal mix of a specifically synthesized ferrofluid with a conventional mineral oil, and it was subjected to thermal aging conditions modeled after a typical power transformer where the insulation fluid is expected to retain its dielectric performance for about 40 years of continuous service in a sealed tank. The well-known Arrhenius relationship was employed to model “life in service” for up to 40 years at 105°C which corresponded to holding the samples in sealed jars for 10 weeks at 185°C. Another set of small ampules (5ml) was prepared to test the main physical properties after even longer aging. D-fluid tested after a period of 34 and 50 weeks at 185°C showed no degradation of thermal or colloid stability. The dielectric colloid was also subjected to a 21 day-long test at 110°C in a sealed jar in the presence of typical transformer materials: copper, cellulose, and silicon steel (so-called “bomb” test). Finally, the ferrofluid went through an oxidation stability test (ASTM D2440). Test results show that the newly developed dielectric colloid satisfies the long-term service requirements the transformer users typically apply to conventional mineral oils.

Magnetic properties of solidified ferrocolloids

Experimental and theoretical investigations are made of the magnetization of solidified dielectric colloids prepared using single-domain magnetite particles with randomly oriented axes of easy magnetization. A method is proposed to calculate the magnetization curves with allowance for blocking of the magnetic moments of particles and magnetic-dipole interparticle interactions. It is shown that magnetic colloids with an extremely low remanent magnetization (a few tens of amps per meter) may be obtained.

Electrical conductivity of colloidal systems during irreversible aggregation

The low-frequency electrical conductivity of dielectric colloids (polysterene and silica) and metallic (silver) ones in aqueous solutions shows a power-law behavior in time during the salt-induced cluster-cluster aggregation. We interpret this fact using current theories of heterogeneous dielectric systems. The fractal nature of the clusters, checked by light scattering, determines the exponent of the power law.