Self-assembly and percolation in magnetic colloids

TL;DR

This paper investigates the self-assembly and phase behavior of magnetic colloids, combining experiments and simulations to map phase diagrams and identify conditions promoting percolated structures.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive approach integrating microscopy, image analysis, and simulations to study self-assembly in magnetic colloids with tunable interactions.

Findings

Identification of phase regions with symmetric bead ratios and interactions

Construction of phase diagrams based on experimental and simulation data

Discovery of conditions favoring percolated network formation

Abstract

We study the self-assembly of branching-chain networks and crystals in a binary colloidal system with tunable interactions. The particle positions are extracted from microscope images and order parameters are extracted by image processing and statistical analysis. With these, we construct phase diagrams with respect to particle density, ratio and interaction. In order to draw a more complete picture, we complement the experiments with computer simulations. We establish a region in the phase diagram, where bead ratios and interactions are symmetric, promoting percolated structures.