Self-Assembly of Metallic Microparticles in
Strong Electric Fields

Dr. Igor Aronson
Division of Materials Science
Argonne National Laboratory

Date: Thursday, April 8, 2004
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Engineering II, Room 3361

ABSTRACT

We carried out experimental studies of self-assembly of metallic microparticles in poorly conducting liquid subject to constant electric field. Depending on the experimental conditions, the particles self-assemble into rotating vortices, honeycomb lattices, or form long chains directed along the electric field lines.

The observed structures are explained by the interplay between charged particles and electrohydrodynamic convective flows in the liquid.