Enlargement of Grains of Silica Colloidal Crystals by Centrifugation in an Inverted-Triangle Internal-Shaped Container

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that centrifugation in an inverted-triangle internal-shaped container significantly enlarges silica colloidal crystal grains compared to flat-bottomed containers, due to shape-induced grain growth facilitation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel container design that enhances grain size of silica colloidal crystals during centrifugation, improving control over crystal growth.

Findings

Largest grains are significantly bigger in inverted-triangle containers.

Edge design reduces the number of grains formed.

Container shape effectively widens the grains.

Abstract

We successfully fabricated large grains of silica colloidal crystals in an inverted-triangle internal-shaped container (inverted-triangle container) by centrifugation. The largest grain in the container was much larger than that in a container which has a flat bottom and constant width (flat-bottomed container). The edged bottom of the inverted-triangle container eliminated the number of the grains, and then the broadened shape of the container effectively widened the grains.