Optimising self-assembly through time-dependent interactions

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple approach using time-dependent interactions to enhance self-assembly in colloidal systems, improving nucleation and growth of high-quality structures.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method of modulating interaction strength over time to optimize self-assembly processes in colloids and cluster growth models.

Findings

Time-dependent interactions accelerate nucleation.

Weakening bonds promotes high-quality structure growth.

Multiple nucleation events and competition effects are analyzed.

Abstract

We demonstrate a simple method by which time-dependent interactions can be exploited to improve self-assembly in colloidal systems. We apply this method to two systems: a model colloid with short-ranged attractive potentials that undergoes crystallisation, and a schematic model of cluster growth. The method is based on initially strong bonds between particles, to accelerate nucleation, followed by a stage with weaker bonds, to promote growth of high-quality assembled structures. We track the growth of clusters during assembly, which reveals insight into effects of multiple nucleation events, and of competition between the growth of clusters with different properties.