Crystallization and arrest mechanisms of model colloids

TL;DR

This study uses dynamic simulations to explore how model colloids crystallize or become arrested, revealing diverse pathways and the influence of interaction parameters on these processes.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of crystallization pathways and arrest mechanisms in colloids with short-range attractions, highlighting the diversity of pathways and structural arrest features.

Findings

Fast crystallization occurs in specific parameter regions.

Crystallization pathways vary from one-step to two-step processes.

Arrested states involve networks of face-sharing tetrahedra.

Abstract

We performed dynamic simulations of spheres with short-range attractive interactions for many values of interaction strength and range. Fast crystallization occurs in a localized region of this parameter space, but the character of crystallization pathways is not uniform within this region. Pathways range from one-step, in which a crystal nucleates directly from a gas, to two-step, in which substantial liquid-like clusters form and only subsequently become crystalline. Crystallization can fail because of slow nucleation from either gas or liquid, or because of dynamic arrest caused by strong interactions. Arrested states are characterized by the formation of networks of face-sharing tetrahedra that can be detected by a local common neighbor analysis.