The split in the second peak in the structure factor of binary colloidal suspensions: glass-like order

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Structure factors of dilute binary colloidal suspensions of various compositions, particle diameter ratios and ionic impurity concentrations are investigated using polarised light scattering. For the first time, a split in the second peak of the measured structure factor is observed, suggesting the existence of glass-like order in the binary suspensions. The near-forward-scattered intensity from the colloidal suspension exhibiting a split second peak fluctuates much more slowly than that from the liquid-like ordered phase, corroborating the existence of glass-like order in the binary mixtures. The time evolution of the structure indicates that a liquid-like order continuously evolves into glass-like order as the strength of inter-particle interaction is increased by reducing the impurity concentration. The glass-like order is unstable towards formation of the crystalline state above a critical volume fraction (which depends on the impurity concentration) of the particles.

This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit: