Density minimum in the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres

Rui P.S. Fartaria; M.B. Sweatman

doi:10.1016/j.cplett.2009.07.047

Density minimum in the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres

Rui P.S. Fartaria, M.B. Sweatman

Chemical And Process Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We study the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres over a wide range of aspect ratios using Monte Carlo simulation and umbrella sampling. We find a minimum in the density of both coexisting phases near to L/D=0.04 (thickness/diameter) and show that this minimum is a result of competition between the solid volume of the disks and the free volume which is significantly influenced by nematic pre-ordering in the isotropic phase. We expect similar behaviour for other kinds of discotic particles. This behaviour should be observed as a kind of 'partially re-entrant' isotropic phase for discotic mesogens within an appropriate concentration range.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	150-154
Number of pages	5
Journal	Chemical Physics Letters
Volume	478
Issue number	4-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cplett.2009.07.047
Publication status	Published - 27 Aug 2009

Keywords

density
isotropic-nematic transition
hard cut-spheres
chemical engineering

Access to Document

10.1016/j.cplett.2009.07.047

Design of polymer-clay nano-composites via control of phase behaviour
Sweatman, M. (Principal Investigator), Liggat, J. (Co-investigator), Pethrick, R. (Co-investigator) & Sefcik, J. (Co-investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
15/01/07 → 30/11/10
Project: Research

Cite this

@article{df9b2e58305a4df3b04340f4b9d7ad89,

title = "Density minimum in the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres",

abstract = "We study the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres over a wide range of aspect ratios using Monte Carlo simulation and umbrella sampling. We find a minimum in the density of both coexisting phases near to L/D=0.04 (thickness/diameter) and show that this minimum is a result of competition between the solid volume of the disks and the free volume which is significantly influenced by nematic pre-ordering in the isotropic phase. We expect similar behaviour for other kinds of discotic particles. This behaviour should be observed as a kind of 'partially re-entrant' isotropic phase for discotic mesogens within an appropriate concentration range.",

keywords = "density, isotropic-nematic transition, hard cut-spheres, chemical engineering",

author = "Fartaria, {Rui P.S.} and M.B. Sweatman",

year = "2009",

month = aug,

day = "27",

doi = "10.1016/j.cplett.2009.07.047",

language = "English",

volume = "478",

pages = "150--154",

journal = "Chemical Physics Letters",

issn = "0009-2614",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

number = "4-6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Density minimum in the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres

AU - Fartaria, Rui P.S.

AU - Sweatman, M.B.

PY - 2009/8/27

Y1 - 2009/8/27

N2 - We study the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres over a wide range of aspect ratios using Monte Carlo simulation and umbrella sampling. We find a minimum in the density of both coexisting phases near to L/D=0.04 (thickness/diameter) and show that this minimum is a result of competition between the solid volume of the disks and the free volume which is significantly influenced by nematic pre-ordering in the isotropic phase. We expect similar behaviour for other kinds of discotic particles. This behaviour should be observed as a kind of 'partially re-entrant' isotropic phase for discotic mesogens within an appropriate concentration range.

AB - We study the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres over a wide range of aspect ratios using Monte Carlo simulation and umbrella sampling. We find a minimum in the density of both coexisting phases near to L/D=0.04 (thickness/diameter) and show that this minimum is a result of competition between the solid volume of the disks and the free volume which is significantly influenced by nematic pre-ordering in the isotropic phase. We expect similar behaviour for other kinds of discotic particles. This behaviour should be observed as a kind of 'partially re-entrant' isotropic phase for discotic mesogens within an appropriate concentration range.

KW - density

KW - isotropic-nematic transition

KW - hard cut-spheres

KW - chemical engineering

U2 - 10.1016/j.cplett.2009.07.047

DO - 10.1016/j.cplett.2009.07.047

M3 - Article

SN - 0009-2614

VL - 478

SP - 150

EP - 154

JO - Chemical Physics Letters

JF - Chemical Physics Letters

IS - 4-6

ER -

Density minimum in the isotropic-nematic transition of hard cut-spheres

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Projects

Design of polymer-clay nano-composites via control of phase behaviour

Cite this