Out-of-equilibrium routes to engineer colloidal gels and self-healing microscopic carpets.

by Helena Massana-CId (University of Barcelona)

Tuesday 8 Oct 2019, 16:00 → 17:00 Europe/Rome

Aula Conversi (Dip. di Fisica - Edificio G. Marconi)

In this talk I will describe different approaches to form two-dimensional static and propelling colloidal structures using external fields. First, I will demonstrate a field-tunable annealing protocol based on a controlled colloidal flow above large-scale clusters, assembled by an external magnetic field. In the second part of the talk I will show a new route for the formation of two-dimensional gels composed of passive colloidal particles using the light activation of a small number of apolar dopants. Our findings provide a pathway towards the rapid engineering of microscopic colloidal gels, clusters and crystals.