Abstract
Suspensions of binary mixtures of hard-sphere poly-methylmethacrylate colloidal particles were studied at six different size ratios . The main aim was to determine the range of size ratios over which the binary colloidal crystals and are stable. Combining these results with those of earlier work, we found stability of for , in good agreement with theoretical predictions by computer simulation and cell model methods. was observed for , the lower limit being significantly smaller than the theoretical prediction of about 0.525. Rough measurements of crystallization rates showed that tended to crystallize fastest at small size ratios, whereas the opposite was true for . These findings should provide a guide to the optimum conditions for materials applications of these binary colloidal crystals.
- Received 27 May 2005
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.72.031407
©2005 American Physical Society