8,178 research outputs found
Coarsening modes of clusters of aggregating particles
There are two modes by which clusters of aggregating particles can coalesce:
The clusters can merge either (i) by the Ostwald ripening process in which
particles diffuse from one cluster to the other whilst the cluster centres
remain stationary, or (ii) by means of a cluster translation mode, in which the
clusters move towards each other and join. To understand in detail the
interplay between these different modes, we study a model system of hard
particles with an additional attraction between them. The particles diffuse
along narrow channels with smooth or periodically corrugated walls, so that the
system may be treated as one-dimensional. When the attraction between the
particles is strong enough, they aggregate to form clusters. The channel
potential influences whether clusters can move easily or not through the system
and can prevent cluster motion. We use Dynamical Density Functional theory to
study the dynamics of the aggregation process, focusing in particular on the
coalescence of two equal size clusters. As long as the particle hard-core
diameter is non-zero, we find that the coalescence process can be halted by a
sufficiently strong corrugation potential. The period of the potential
determines the size of the final stable clusters. For the case of smooth
channel walls, we demonstrate that there is a cross-over in the dominance of
the two different coarsening modes, that depends on the strength of the
attraction between particles, the cluster sizes and the separation distance
between clusters
Modelling the evaporation of thin films of colloidal suspensions using Dynamical Density Functional Theory
Recent experiments have shown that various structures may be formed during
the evaporative dewetting of thin films of colloidal suspensions. Nano-particle
deposits of strongly branched `flower-like', labyrinthine and network
structures are observed. They are caused by the different transport processes
and the rich phase behaviour of the system. We develop a model for the system,
based on a dynamical density functional theory, which reproduces these
structures. The model is employed to determine the influences of the solvent
evaporation and of the diffusion of the colloidal particles and of the liquid
over the surface. Finally, we investigate the conditions needed for
`liquid-particle' phase separation to occur and discuss its effect on the
self-organised nano-structures
Thin film evolution equations from (evaporating) dewetting liquid layers to epitaxial growth
In the present contribution we review basic mathematical results for three
physical systems involving self-organising solid or liquid films at solid
surfaces. The films may undergo a structuring process by dewetting,
evaporation/condensation or epitaxial growth, respectively. We highlight
similarities and differences of the three systems based on the observation that
in certain limits all of them may be described using models of similar form,
i.e., time evolution equations for the film thickness profile. Those equations
represent gradient dynamics characterized by mobility functions and an
underlying energy functional.
Two basic steps of mathematical analysis are used to compare the different
system. First, we discuss the linear stability of homogeneous steady states,
i.e., flat films; and second the systematics of non-trivial steady states,
i.e., drop/hole states for dewetting films and quantum dot states in epitaxial
growth, respectively. Our aim is to illustrate that the underlying solution
structure might be very complex as in the case of epitaxial growth but can be
better understood when comparing to the much simpler results for the dewetting
liquid film. We furthermore show that the numerical continuation techniques
employed can shed some light on this structure in a more convenient way than
time-stepping methods.
Finally we discuss that the usage of the employed general formulation does
not only relate seemingly not related physical systems mathematically, but does
as well allow to discuss model extensions in a more unified way
Localized states in the conserved Swift-Hohenberg equation with cubic nonlinearity
The conserved Swift-Hohenberg equation with cubic nonlinearity provides the
simplest microscopic description of the thermodynamic transition from a fluid
state to a crystalline state. The resulting phase field crystal model describes
a variety of spatially localized structures, in addition to different spatially
extended periodic structures. The location of these structures in the
temperature versus mean order parameter plane is determined using a combination
of numerical continuation in one dimension and direct numerical simulation in
two and three dimensions. Localized states are found in the region of
thermodynamic coexistence between the homogeneous and structured phases, and
may lie outside of the binodal for these states. The results are related to the
phenomenon of slanted snaking but take the form of standard homoclinic snaking
when the mean order parameter is plotted as a function of the chemical
potential, and are expected to carry over to related models with a conserved
order parameter.Comment: 40 pages, 13 figure
Dynamical model for the formation of patterned deposits at receding contact lines
We describe the formation of deposition patterns that are observed in many
different experiments where a three-phase contact line of a volatile
nanoparticle suspension or polymer solution recedes. A dynamical model based on
a long-wave approximation predicts the deposition of irregular and regular line
patterns due to self-organised pinning-depinning cycles corresponding to a
stick-slip motion of the contact line. We analyze how the line pattern
properties depend on the evaporation rate and solute concentration
Liquid transport generated by a flashing field-induced wettability ratchet
We develop and analyze a model for ratchet-driven macroscopic transport of a
continuous phase. The transport relies on a field-induced dewetting-spreading
cycle of a liquid film with a free surface based on a switchable, spatially
asymmetric, periodic interaction of the liquid-gas interface and the substrate.
The concept is exemplified using an evolution equation for a dielectric liquid
film under an inhomogeneous voltage. We analyse the influence of the various
phases of the ratchet cycle on the transport properties. Conditions for maximal
transport and the efficiency of transport under load are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure
Dynamical density functional theory for the dewetting of evaporating thin films of nanoparticle suspensions exhibiting pattern formation
Recent experiments have shown that the striking structure formation in
dewetting films of evaporating colloidal nanoparticle suspensions occurs in an
ultrathin `postcursor' layer that is left behind by a mesoscopic dewetting
front. Various phase change and transport processes occur in the postcursor
layer, that may lead to nanoparticle deposits in the form of labyrinthine,
network or strongly branched `finger' structures. We develop a versatile
dynamical density functional theory to model this system which captures all
these structures and may be employed to investigate the influence of
evaporation/condensation, nanoparticle transport and solute transport in a
differentiated way. We highlight, in particular, the influence of the subtle
interplay of decomposition in the layer and contact line motion on the observed
particle-induced transverse instability of the dewetting front.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Experimental observation of nanoscale radiative heat flow due to surface plasmons in graphene and doped silicon
Owing to its two dimensional electronic structure, graphene exhibits many
unique properties. One of them is a wave vector and temperature dependent
plasmon in the infrared range. Theory predicts that due to these plasmons,
graphene can be used as a universal material to enhance nanoscale radiative
heat exchange for any dielectric substrate. Here we report on radiative heat
transfer experiments between SiC and a SiO2 sphere which have non matching
phonon polariton frequencies, and thus only weakly exchange heat in near field.
We observed that the heat flux contribution of graphene epitaxially grown on
SiC dominates at short distances. The influence of plasmons on radiative heat
transfer is further supported with measurements for doped silicon. These
results highlight graphenes strong potential in photonic nearfield and energy
conversion devices.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Solidification in soft-core fluids: disordered solids from fast solidification fronts
Using dynamical density functional theory we calculate the speed of
solidification fronts advancing into a quenched two-dimensional model fluid of
soft-core particles. We find that solidification fronts can advance via two
different mechanisms, depending on the depth of the quench. For shallow
quenches, the front propagation is via a nonlinear mechanism. For deep
quenches, front propagation is governed by a linear mechanism and in this
regime we are able to determine the front speed via a marginal stability
analysis. We find that the density modulations generated behind the advancing
front have a characteristic scale that differs from the wavelength of the
density modulation in thermodynamic equilibrium, i.e., the spacing between the
crystal planes in an equilibrium crystal. This leads to the subsequent
development of disorder in the solids that are formed. For the one-component
fluid, the particles are able to rearrange to form a well-ordered crystal, with
few defects. However, solidification fronts in a binary mixture exhibiting
crystalline phases with square and hexagonal ordering generate solids that are
unable to rearrange after the passage of the solidification front and a
significant amount of disorder remains in the system.Comment: 18 pages, 14 fig
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