The structure of clusters formed by Stockmayer supracolloidal magnetic polymers

• Published in: arXiv.org
• Main Authors: Novak, Ekaterina V, Pyanzina, Elena S, Sánchez, Pedro A, Kantorovich, Sofia S
• Format: Paper Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 03.12.2019
• Subjects: Attraction; Clusters; Critical point; Crosslinking; Molecular dynamics; Physics - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics; Physics - Soft Condensed Matter; Rings (mathematics); Self-assembly; Topology
• ISSN: 2331-8422
• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1912.01314

Unlike Stockmayer fluids, that prove to undergo gas-liquid transition on cooling, the system of dipolar hard or soft spheres without any additional central attraction so far has not been shown to have a critical point. Instead, in the latter, one observes diverse self-assembly scenarios. Crosslinking dipolar soft spheres into supracolloidal magnetic polymer-like structures (SMPs) changes the self-assembly behaviour. Moreover, aggregation in systems of SMPs strongly depends on the constituent topology. For Y- and X-shaped SMPs, under the same conditions in which dipolar hard spheres would form chains, the formation of very large loose gel-like clusters was observed [Journal of Molecular Liquids, 271, 631 (2018)]. In this work, using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate self-assembly in suspensions of four topologically different SMPs -- chains, rings, X and Y -- monomers in which interact via Stockmayer potential. As expected, compact drop-like clusters are formed by SMPs in all cases if the central isotropic attraction is introduced, however, their shape and internal structure turn out to depend on the SMPs topology.