Particle concentration is an important factor that determines the phase behavior of all colloidal suspensions. We use electric field gradients to manipulate the local particle concentration in a suspension rather than gravity and temperature gradients. Combination of dielectrophoresis and confinement can give precise control over the particle concentration in a sealed sample cell. When the system comes to equilibrium under the action of electric field gradients, density gradients form naturally to counterbalance the electrostatic energy. It is possible to squeeze and relax particles by switching the electric field on and off respectively, which enables to study phase transformation processes such as crystal nucleation, growth, and melting.

Use of an electric bottle for colloids to study phase transitions

248th National Meeting (2014)

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