Two-dimensional colloidal alloys

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Mar 25;106(12):128302. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.128302. Epub 2011 Mar 24.

Abstract

We study the structure of mixed monolayers of large (3 μm diameter) and small (1 μm diameter) very hydrophobic silica particles at an octane-water interface as a function of the number fraction of small particles ξ. We find that a rich variety of two-dimensional hexagonal super-lattices of large (A) and small (B) particles can be obtained in this system due to strong and long-range electrostatic repulsions through the nonpolar octane phase. The structures obtained for the different compositions are in good agreement with zero temperature calculations and finite temperature computer simulations.