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Ratchet effect in faceting

A growth of perfect lyotropic crystals by temperature cycles

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Abstract.

The paper deals with a new phenomenon, named ratchet effect, envisioned theoretically as a likely consequence of metastability of crystal facets and expected to occur upon a temperature cycling. In experiments, Pn3m lyotropic crystals surrounded by the isotropic L1 phase in the mixture C12EO2/water are used. At equilibrium, the Pn3m/L1 interface contains small (111)-type facets in coexistence with rough surfaces. In agreement with theoretical expectations, it is shown that upon a saw-tooth-shaped temperature cycling, facets are growing until the rough surfaces are completely eliminated. A model of the ratchet effect is proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Université Paris-Sud, Bât. 510, 91405 , Orsay Cedex, France

    T. Plötzing & P. Pieranski

Authors
  1. T. Plötzing
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  2. P. Pieranski
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Correspondence to P. Pieranski.

Additional information

Received: 8 January 2004, Published online: 25 March 2004

PACS:

64.70.Md Phase transitions in liquid crystals - 68.35.Md Surface thermodynamics, surface energies - 61.30.-v Liquid crystals

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Plötzing, T., Pieranski, P. Ratchet effect in faceting. Eur. Phys. J. E 13, 179–188 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/e2004-00053-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/e2004-00053-0

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