Transport and Assembly of Colloidal Nanoparticles by a Moving Phase Boundary

We consider the implications of a general continuum model of a colloidal nanoparticle and liquid crystal solvent system. This model suggests that a moving liquid crystal phase boundary can transport colloidal nanoparticles and contribute to their aggregation as the boundary shape-shifts to minimize the free energy of the system. We discuss how the inclusion of colloidal nanoparticles might change the dynamics of the liquid crystal solvent. Lastly, we show how a simple analysis of this model may imply that there are characteristic timescales which depend on general system parameters. This model might assist in the discovery of self-assembled microscale materials with applications in medicine, cosmetics, and food science.