Phase Behavior of Model Colloids with Attractive Potentials

Abstract

Colloids with observable sizes have been well-known as effective tools to understand phase behaviors of atoms and molecules. Crystallization and melting of hard or repulsive spheres resemble those of metallic atoms and ions. However, such models are still inappropriate to fully describe the real atomic or molecular phase behaviors involving attractions represented by L-J or Morse potentials. In this study, we provide pair-potentials by imposing depletion interaction for the comprehensive study of phase behaviors of crystallization. Parameters from the potentials elaborately characterize the crystallization. The nucleation and growth are described by classical nucleation theory and diffusion-limited reaction, respectively. The initial diffusing condition involves the growth through Ostwald ripening and the shape of crystals divided into polygons and dendrites. Those phase behaviors are greatly related to the atomic and molecular systems, which possibly serve as realistic model colloids.