Computer simulations and theory of hybrid materials composed of ferrocolloids in liquid-crystalline hosts

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The present project focuses on soft hybrid materials consisting of ferromagnetic nanoparticles embedded in an orientationally ordered liquid-crystalline matrix. Using methods from statistical physics, we aim to explore the interplay between the microscopic (static and dynamic) behavior of the ferromagnetic and matrix particles, on the one hand, and the macroscopic material properties, on the other hand. Whereas the first two funding periods were concerned with the structure formation of systems with spherical magnetic particles in thermal equilibrium, we now aim at investigating two new directions: i) impact of a planar shear flow (with emphasis on the magnetoviscous effect) and ii) systems with non-spherical magnetic particles. These investigations will be done in close exchange with experimental projects in the priority programme. Our investigations will be mainly based on particle-based computer simulations. In addition, we plan to develop a mesoscopic approach where coarse-grained equations of motion for the relevant order parameters are combined with classical density functional theory. In this way we aim to establish a scale-bridging theoretical approach towards magnetic liquid-crystalline hybrids.