Directed Self-assembly of Colloidal Particles on a Blue Phase I Interface

Abstract

A mean field continuum free energy model of chiral liquid crystals (LCs) is used to consider the self-assembly of colloids and nanoparticles on the surface of a confined Blue Phase I (BPI) with planar anchoring. It is shown that the crystalline defect structure of the blue phase produces intricate, two-dimensional lattices of particles. There are hexagonal and Kagome structures among such arrangements, with lattice parameters that depend on the type of anchoring of the liquid crystal at the colloidal particle's surface. These parameters can be tuned via the chirality of the material, thereby offering intriguing possibilities for the creation of hierarchical materials based on the directed assembly of particles in fluid media.