Stratification in the dynamics of sedimenting colloidal platelet–sphere mixtures

Abstract

The dynamics of sedimentation in a binary mixture of colloidal platelets–spheres is studied theoretically using the minimal energy model. Revisiting a sedimenting mixture of platelets, we find that nematic phase behaviors are formed, coupled with certain stratification structures in the mixed sediments, which has never been discussed before. Non-equilibrium sedimentation–diffusion equations involving excluded volume interactions between the colloids have been developed to show the occurrence of the stratified structures in the mixed platelet–sphere sediments. The model shows clearly how the nematic configuration occurs corresponding to the stratifications (the peak-like concentration profiles) over time. Both initial sphere concentration and size ratio are found to have great effects on these two coupled structural configurations, which has been illustrated in two state diagrams in detail. It is found that the stratification structure of sphere-on-top corresponds to the nematic bottom phase configuration for a small size ratio; meanwhile, the platelet-on-top structure occurs corresponding to the floating nematic phase configuration for a large size ratio. Interestingly, we can specify a moderate range of size ratio in which the mixture displays only the nematic phase configuration (either the nematic bottom phase or the floating nematic phase depending on the sphere loadings), while the mixed sediments are unstratified as a bulk.