This title appears in the Scientific Report :
2020
Please use the identifier:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.102.052602 in citations.
Please use the identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26186 in citations.
Phase behavior of ultrasoft spheres show stable bcc lattices
Phase behavior of ultrasoft spheres show stable bcc lattices
The phase behavior of supersoft spheres is explored using solutions of ultralow cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels as a model system. For these microgels, the effects of the electric charges on their surfaces can be neglected and therefore only the role of softness on the phase...
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Personal Name(s): | Scotti, A. (Corresponding author) |
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Houston, J. E. / Brugnoni, M. / Schmidt, M. M. / Schulte, M. F. / Bochenek, S. / Schweins, R. / Feoktystov, A. / Radulescu, A. / Richtering, W. (Corresponding author) | |
Contributing Institute: |
Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum; MLZ Streumethoden; JCNS-2 Neutronenstreuung; JCNS-1 JCNS-FRM-II; JCNS-FRM-II |
Published in: | Physical Review E Physical review / E, 102 102 (2020 2020) 5 5, S. 052602 052602 |
Imprint: |
Woodbury, NY
Inst.
2020
2020-11-02 2020-11-01 |
DOI: |
10.1103/PhysRevE.102.052602 |
Document Type: |
Journal Article |
Research Program: |
FRM II / MLZ Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) |
Subject (ZB): | |
Link: |
OpenAccess OpenAccess OpenAccess |
Publikationsportal JuSER |
Please use the identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26186 in citations.
The phase behavior of supersoft spheres is explored using solutions of ultralow cross-linked poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels as a model system. For these microgels, the effects of the electric charges on their surfaces can be neglected and therefore only the role of softness on the phase behavior is investigated. The samples show a liquid-to-crystal transition at higher volume fraction with respect to both hard spheres and stiffer microgels. Furthermore, stable body centered cubic (bcc) crystals are observed in addition to the expected face centered cubic (fcc) crystals. Small-angle x-ray and neutron scattering with contrast variation allow the characterization of both the microgel-to-microgel distance and the architecture of single microgels in crowded solutions. The measurements reveal that the stable bcc crystals depend on the interplay between the collapse and the interpenetration of the external shell of the ultralow cross-linked microgels. |