Quenched-annealed density functional theory for interfacial behavior of hard rods at a hard rod matrix
Cheung, David L. ; Schmidt, Matthias
Cheung, David L.
Schmidt, Matthias
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2009
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Cheung, David L.; Schmidt, Matthias (2009) 'Quenched-annealed density functional theory for interfacial behavior of hard rods at a hard rod matrix'. Journal Of Chemical Physics, 131 (21):214705/1-214705/7.
Abstract
We consider a system of mobile hard rods that are immersed in an isotropic matrix of hard rods with quenched positions and orientations. Using quenched-annealed density functional theory the disorder-averaged excess free energy functional is approximated by an Onsager second virial form, which is valid in the limit of large length-to-thickness aspect ratio of the particles. We find that inside the bulk isotropic matrices the isotropic-nematic phase transition occurs at higher values of the chemical potential than in the pure system, shifted proportionally to the product of the matrix density and the matrix-fluid excluded volume. We investigate adsorption and penetration behavior of the annealed rods at the planar surface of a porous rod matrix, considering both perpendicular and parallel boundary conditions of the nematic director far from the surface.
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AIP Publishing
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland