Confinement induced splay-to-bend transition of colloidal rods.

Journal article

We study the nematic phase of rodlike f d-virus particles confined to channels with wedge-structured walls. Using laser scanning confocal microscopy we observe a splay-to-bend transition at the single particle level as a function of the wedge opening angle. Lattice Boltzmann simulations reveal the underlying origin of the transition and its dependence on nematic elasticity and wedge geometry. Our combined work provides a simple method to estimate the splay-to-bend elasticity ratios of the virus and offers a way to control the position of defects through the confining boundary conditions.

Authors: Dammone, O; Zacharoudiou, I; Dullens, R; Yeomans, J; Lettinga, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 109
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 108303
• Publication date: 2012-09-01
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.109.108303
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Language: English
• Keywords: Virion; Colloids; Mechanical Processes; Bacteriophage M13; Biomechanics; Elasticity