Numerical simulations of electric field driven self-assembly of monolayers of mixtures of nanoparticles

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2017

Abstract

We numerically study the process of self-assembly of particle mixtures on fluid-liquid interfaces when an electric field is applied in the direction normal to the interface. The force law for the dependence of the electric field induced dipole-dipole and capillary forces on the distance between the particles and their physical properties obtained in an earlier study by performing direct numerical simulations is used for conducting simulations. The inter-particle forces cause mixtures of nanoparticles to selfassemble into molecular-like hierarchical arrangements consisting of composite particles which are organized in a pattern. However, there is a critical electric intensity value below which particles move under the influence of Brownian forces and do not self-assemble. Above the critical value, when the particles sizes differed by a factor of two or more, the composite particle has a larger particle at its core and several smaller particles forming a ring around it. Approximately same sized particles, when their concentrations are approximately equal, form binary particles or chains (analogous to polymeric molecules) in which positively and negatively polarized particles alternate, but when their concentrations differ the particles whose concentration is larger form rings around the particles with smaller concentration.

Identifier

85033607119 (Scopus)

ISBN

[9780791858059]

Publication Title

American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fluids Engineering Division Publication Fedsm

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1115/FEDSM2017-69380

ISSN

08888116

Volume

1B-2017

Grant

CBET-1067004

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

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