SKM 2023 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 24: Complex Fluids and Soft Matter I (joint session DY/CPP)

CPP 24.8: Talk

Tuesday, March 28, 2023, 12:00–12:15, MOL 213

Entropic phase diagram of twisted convex particles — •Poshika Gandhi and Anja Kuhnhold — Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Germany

The field of liquid crystal simulations has, over the years, benefitted immensely from the study of purely entropy driven systems. Since Onsager’s[1] predictions of the existence of a nematic phase in long rods, the list of known phases of hard rod-like particles has grown to include phases like smectics and cholesterics.

An important parameter in the formation of these phases is the particle shape anisotropy. By considering unusual particle shapes new phases can be discovered. Recently, Dussi and Dijkstra[2] showed the formation of stable chiral nematic phase in twisted polyhedral particles using only entropic interactions.

We used Monte Carlo NVT simulations to produce phase diagrams of a different class of twisted particles - convex triangular and rectangular prisms. The results show a host of previously undiscovered phases arising from the shape anisotropy parameters like twist angle and aspect ratios.

[1] Onsager, L., Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 51, 627 (1949).

[2] Dussi, S., Dijkstra, M., Nat Commun. 7, 11175 (2016).