2023/03/15 by Yaxin Xu, Xu, Yaxin, Kyu Hwan Choi +5
Engineering · Materials Science · #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Material Dynamics and Properties #Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization #Slime Mold and Myxomycetes Research #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft) #Statistical Mechanics (cond-mat.stat-mech)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2303.08880
openalex publication_date 2023/03/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Understanding multibody interactions between colloidal particles out of equilibrium has a profound impact on dynamical processes such as colloidal self assembly. However, traditional colloidal interactions are effectively quasi-static on colloidal timescales and cannot be modulated out of equilibrium. A mechanism to dynamically tune the interactions during colloidal contacts can provide new avenues for self assembly and material design. In this work, we develop a framework based on polymer-coated colloids and demonstrate that in-plane surface mobility and mechanical relaxation of polymers at colloidal contact interfaces enable an effective, dynamic interaction. Combining analytical theory, simulations, and optical tweezer experiments, we demonstrate precise control of dynamic pair interactions over a range of pico-Newton forces and seconds timescales. Our model may be used to engineer colloids with exquisite control over the kinetics and thermodynamics of colloidal self-assembly dynamics via interface modulation and nonequilibrium processing.