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计划的支持，从理论上研究胶体网络和有限大小团簇的统计力学。研究的重点是异常的本体缩合行为，以及它与胶束表面活性剂溶液和胶体悬浮液中观察到的结构和相演变的关系。唯象理论和蒙特卡罗模拟将被用来演示微相分离磁区和线性链状网络的自组装。除了涉及的基本统计力学问题外，控制纳米到微米尺度的粒子的空间模式对于广泛的电子和光学应用是重要的。特别是，这项研究将模拟涉及最近开发的金属纳米球的实验现象，这对纳米级技术具有潜在的兴趣。

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.