Statistical Mechanics of Colloidal Networks and Limited-Size Clusters

加州大学洛杉矶分校的William Gelbart得到了理论和计算化学项目的支持，从理论上研究了胶体网络和有限大小簇的统计力学。 研究的重点是不寻常的散装冷凝行为，以及它是如何与胶束化的表面活性剂溶液和胶体悬浮液中观察到的结构和相演变。 唯象理论和蒙特卡罗模拟将被用来证明微相分离域和线性链网络的自组装。 与模型系统的连接将努力澄清体凝聚和其他新的凝聚行为之间的竞争。除了所涉及的基本统计力学问题外，纳米到微米尺度上粒子空间模式的控制对于各种各样的电子和光学应用是重要的。 特别是，这项研究将模拟实验现象，涉及最近开发的金属纳米球，这是纳米技术的潜在利益。

William Gelbart of UCLA is supported by the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Program to investigate theoretically the statistical mechanics of colloidal networks and limited-size clusters. The focus of the research is on unusual bulk condensation behavior, and how it is related to structural and phase evolution observed in micellized surfactant solutions and colloidal suspensions. Phenomenological theories and Monte Carlo simulations will be used to demonstrate the self-assembly of micro-phase-separated domains and linear-chain networks. Connections to model systems will be made in an effort to clarify the competition between bulk condensation and other novel condensation behaviors.Apart from the basic statistical mechanics questions involved, the control of spatial patterns of particles over nanometer-to-micron scales is important for a wide variety of electronic and optical applications. In particular, this research will model experimental phenonema involving recently developed metallic nanospheres, which are of potential interest in nanoscale technologies.