Exactly solvable model for self-assembly of hard core - soft shell particles at interfaces

TL;DR

This paper presents an exactly solvable one-dimensional lattice model for the self-assembly of hybrid core-shell particles at interfaces, revealing diverse structural phases and pressure-density behaviors consistent with experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel exactly solvable lattice model capturing the self-assembly of core-shell particles at interfaces, including various periodic structures and pressure behaviors.

Findings

Multiple periodic structures observed in the model.

Pressure-density isotherms show plateaus and vertical segments.

Results align with experimental observations.

Abstract

A lattice model with soft repulsion followed by attraction is developed for a monolayer of hybrid core-shell particles self-assembling at an interface. The model is solved exactly in one dimension. One, two or three periodic structures and variety of shapes of the pressure-density isotherms may occur in different versions of the model. For strong interactions the isotherm consists of vertical segments separated by plateaus. The range of order depends strongly on the strength of attraction and on the density. Our results agree with experimental observations.