Formation and internal ordering of periodic microphases in colloidal models with competing interactions

Abstract

Theory and simulations predict that colloidal particles with short-range attractive and long-range repulsive interactions form periodic microphases if there is a proper balance between the attractive and repulsive contributions. However, the experimental identification of such structures has remained elusive to date. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the phase behaviour of a model system that stabilizes a cluster-crystal, a cylindrical and a lamellar phase at low temperatures. Besides the transition from the fluid to the periodic microphases, we also observe the internal freezing of the clusters at a lower temperature. Finally, our study indicates that, for the chosen model parameters, the three periodic microphases are kinetically accessible from the fluid phase.