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Real-time measurements of crystallization processes in viscoelastic polymeric photonic crystals.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Snoswell, David RE 
Finlayson, Chris E 
Zhao, Qibin 
Baumberg, Jeremy J 

Abstract

We present a study of the dynamic shear ordering of viscoelastic photonic crystals, based on core-shell polymeric composite particles. Using an adapted shear-cell arrangement, the crystalline ordering of the material under conditions of oscillatory shear is interrogated in real time, through both video imaging and from the optical transmission spectra of the cell. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the macroscopic influences of shear on the crystallization process in this solvent-free system, the development of bulk ordering is studied as a function of the key parameters including duty cycle and shear-strain magnitude. In particular, optimal ordering is observed from a prerandomized sample at shear strains of around 160%, for 1-Hz oscillations. This ordering reaches completion over time scales of order 10 s. These observations suggest significant local strains are needed to drive nanoparticles through energy barriers, and that local creep is needed to break temporal symmetry in such high-viscosity nanoassemblies. Crystal shear-melting effects are also characterized under conditions of constant shear rate. These quantitative experiments aim to stimulate the development of theoretical models which can deal with the strong local particle interactions in this system.

Description

Keywords

0912 Materials Engineering, Bioengineering

Journal Title

Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1539-3755
1550-2376

Volume Title

92

Publisher

American Physical Society
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/G060649/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L027151/1)
European Research Council (320503)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H027130/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/E040241/1)
This work is supported by EPSRC Grants No. EP/G060649/1, No. EP/E040241, and No. EP/H027130/1, and ERC Grant No. LINASS 320503