Particle selection through topographic surface patterns in nematic colloids

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how topographic surface patterns can be used to control and localize particles in nematic colloids, enabling tunable assembly of colloidal structures for advanced applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of using surface topography to manipulate particle positions in nematic colloids, enhancing or switching interactions based on surface deformation and anchoring conditions.

Findings

Particles are attracted to concave dimples with matching anchoring conditions.

Particles are pinned at convex protrusions with different anchoring conditions.

Surface topography enables tunable, long-range interactions for colloidal assembly.

Abstract

We propose the use of topographic modulation of surfaces to select and localize particles in nematic colloids. By considering convex and concave deformations of one of the confining surfaces we show that the colloid-flat surface repulsion may be enhanced or switched into an attraction. In particular, we find that when the colloidal particles have the same anchoring conditions as the patterned surfaces, they are strongly attracted to concave dimples, while if they exhibit different anchoring conditions they are pinned at the top of convex protrusions. Although dominated by elastic interactions the first mechanism is reminiscent of the depletion induced attraction or of the key-lock mechanism, while the second is specific to liquid crystal colloids. These long-ranged, highly tunable, surface-colloid interactions contribute for the development of template-assisted assembly of large colloidal crystals, with well defined symmetries, required for applications.