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3d periodic soft matter from hard particles: entropy-driven formation of the gyroid phase

By: Doug Cleaver
From: Sheffield Hallam University, UK
At: Complexo Interdisciplinar, Anfiteatro
[2007-04-11] 11:30

Cubic phases have been observed experimentally in lyotropic and thermotropic liquid crystals and in block copolymers. In these cases, chemical interactions and molecular flexibility clearly influence the phase formation processes. Our recent computer simulation results show, however, that at least one of these cubic phases can in fact be formed by hard, rigid pear-shaped particles. This surprising result is a novel example of an