Field-driven cluster formation in two-dimensional colloidal binary mixtures

DW Qian and MO de la Cruz, PHYSICAL REVIEW E, 107, 044605 (2023).

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.107.044605

We study size-and charge-asymmetric oppositely charged colloids driven by an external electric field. The large particles are connected by harmonic springs, forming a hexagonal-lattice network, while the small particles are free of bonds and exhibit fluidlike motion. We show that this model exhibits a cluster formation pattern when the external driving force exceeds a critical value. The clustering is accompanied with stable wave packets in vibrational motions of the large particles.

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