The configurational space of colloidal patchy polymers with heterogeneous sequences

Author(s)
Ivan Coluzza, Christoph Dellago
Abstract

In this work we characterize the configurational space of a short chain of colloidal particles as a function of the range of directional and heterogeneous isotropic interactions. The individual particles forming the chain are colloids decorated with patches that act as interaction sites between them. We show, using computer simulations, that it is possible to sample the relative probability of occurrence of a structure with a sequence in the space of all possible realizations of the chain. The results presented here represent a first attempt to map the space of possible configurations that a chain of colloidal particles may adopt. Knowledge of such a space is crucial for a possible application of colloidal chains as models for designable self-assembling systems.

Organisation(s)
Computational and Soft Matter Physics
Journal
Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
Volume
24
No. of pages
6
ISSN
0953-8984
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/24/28/284111
Publication date
2012
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
103009 Solid state physics, 103025 Quantum mechanics, 103018 Materials physics, 104022 Theoretical chemistry
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/the-configurational-space-of-colloidal-patchy-polymers-with-heterogeneous-sequences(c18a1083-40d7-43fe-97ce-858434229eb6).html