Advanced Colloids Experiment -Temperature controlled- 2

The objective of this experiment is the investigation of the assembly of complex structures from micron-scale colloidal particles interacting via tunable attractive interactions. Regulating temperature enables control of particle interactions.

This simple reversible process is controlled by adjusting the size of the tunable temperature fluctuations in a two-component fluid (solvent). In principle, the ingredients are simple: particles suspended in a binary solvent, without the addition of any other components.

By studying this process based on critical Casimir forces in microgravity, where sedimentation and convection are essentially removed, we will learn how to adjust complex attractive particle interactions. This simple reversible process is controlled by adjusting the size of the tunable temperature fluctuations in a two-component fluid (solvent). In principle, the ingredients are simple: particles suspended in a binary solvent, without the addition of any other components.

Understanding self-assembly processes like the critical Casimir effect will teach ways to grow complex nanostructured materials. Furthermore, these experiments will provide fundamental insight into the nature of temperature-controlled super structure assembly, the relation between complex interactions and complex equilibrium and non-equilibrium structures, and the dynamics of both equilibrium and non-equilibrium growth processes.