Dresden 2011 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 38: Poster: Colloids and Complex Liquids
CPP 38.5: Poster
Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 17:00–19:00, P2
Experimental Observation of Colloidal Micelles — •Daniela Kraft1, Ran Ni2, Michiel Hermes2, Kisun Yoon3, David Weitz3, Alfons van Blaaderen2, Marjolein Dijkstra2, and Willem Kegel1 — 1Van't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands — 2Soft Condensed Matter Group, Debye Institute for NanoMaterials Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands — 3Experimental Soft Condensed Matter Group, SEAS, Harvard University, USA
Colloidal particles have often been used as analogues of atoms for studying for example crystallization and are widely anticipated as ideal candidates in bottom-up assemblies with rationally designed properties. So far, super-structures such as crystals were determined mainly by the particle shape due to centrosymmetric interactions. Site-specific interactions, so called patchy interactions, between colloids may open up new and exciting assembly possibilities.
Here, we present an experimental realization of such site-specific patchy attractions between complex colloids through depletion interactions, and apply the technique to the most simple case of colloids with one patch. Such colloids with one attractive patch form clusters that resemble surfactant micelles. We discuss the similarities between the observed colloidal clusters and surfactant micelles and compare the results to computer simulations. A theoretical micelle model is used to quantify the results.