Destruction of long-range order recorded with in situ small-angle x-ray diffraction in drying colloidal crystals.

Journal article

High-resolution synchrotron small-angle x-ray diffraction is applied to characterize the structure and long-range order in a sedimentary hard-sphere colloidal crystal before and during its drying. The principles of the technique and the influence of the coherence properties of the x-ray beam are discussed in detail. The capillary forces generated during the drying process are shown to destroy the long-range order and to break the crystal into smaller crystallites with slightly different orientations. The diffraction is shown to switch from the dynamic regime in the long-range-ordered crystal to nearly kinematic diffraction in the mosaic (short-range-ordered) crystal.

Authors: Petukhov, A; Dolbnya, I; Aarts, D; Vroege, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 3 Pt 1
• Pages: 031405
• Publication date: 2004-03-01
• DOI: 10.1103/physreve.69.031405
• EISSN: 1550-2376
• ISSN: 1539-3755
• Language: English