TY - JOUR
T1 - An electric bottle for colloids
AU - Sullivan, M. T.
AU - Zhao, K.
AU - Hollingsworth, A. D.
AU - Austin, Robert Hamilton
AU - Russel, W. B.
AU - Chaikin, P. M.
PY - 2006/1/13
Y1 - 2006/1/13
N2 - Particle concentration is a dominant control parameter for colloids and other soft matter systems. We demonstrate a simple technique, "dielectrophoretic equilibrium," implemented as an "electric bottle," a planar capacitor in a larger volume. The uniform E field in the capacitor traps particles in this force-free region at a higher density than in the zero field regions outside. We show how the technique measures the equation of state and we initiate and grow colloidal crystals. "Dielectrophoretic equilibria" enable the study of a complete concentration-dependent phase diagram from a single microscopic sample, obviating the previous need for preparing a large number of samples.
AB - Particle concentration is a dominant control parameter for colloids and other soft matter systems. We demonstrate a simple technique, "dielectrophoretic equilibrium," implemented as an "electric bottle," a planar capacitor in a larger volume. The uniform E field in the capacitor traps particles in this force-free region at a higher density than in the zero field regions outside. We show how the technique measures the equation of state and we initiate and grow colloidal crystals. "Dielectrophoretic equilibria" enable the study of a complete concentration-dependent phase diagram from a single microscopic sample, obviating the previous need for preparing a large number of samples.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=32644490343&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=32644490343&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.015703
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.015703
M3 - Article
C2 - 16486476
AN - SCOPUS:32644490343
VL - 96
JO - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 1
M1 - 015703
ER -