Optimized Large Hyperuniform Binary Colloidal Suspensions in Two Dimensions

Zheng Ma, Enrique Lomba, Salvatore Torquato

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The creation of disordered hyperuniform materials with extraordinary optical properties (e.g., large complete photonic band gaps) requires a capacity to synthesize large samples that are effectively hyperuniform down to the nanoscale. Motivated by this challenge, we propose a feasible equilibrium fabrication protocol using binary paramagnetic colloidal particles confined in a 2D plane. The strong and long-ranged dipolar interaction induced by a tunable magnetic field is free from screening effects that attenuate long-ranged electrostatic interactions in charged colloidal systems. Specifically, we numerically find a family of optimal size ratios that makes the two-phase system effectively hyperuniform. We show that hyperuniformity is a general consequence of low isothermal compressibilities, which makes our protocol suitable to treat more general systems with other long-ranged interactions, dimensionalities, and/or polydispersity. Our methodology paves the way to synthesize large photonic hyperuniform materials that function in the visible to infrared range and hence may accelerate the discovery of novel photonic materials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number068002
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume125
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 7 2020
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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