Eur. Phys. J. B 1, 319-326 (1998)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050189

Existence, stability and structure of a hexagonal phase doped with nanoparticles

¹ Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Collège de France (CNRS, URA 792) , 11 Place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
² UMR CNRS-Elf Atochem, 95 rue Danton, 92303 Levallois-Perret Cedex, France

Corresponding author: ^a laurence@dept.physics.upenn.edu

Received: 4 September 1997
Revised: 14 October 1997
Accepted: 19 November 1997
Published online: 15 February 1998

Abstract

We describe and study by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) a new type of hybrid system. It is composed of a swollen lyotropic hexagonal phase into the cylinders of which solid magnetic particles of nanometric size have been incorporated. It has been found to be stable for volume fractions of particles up to 2% provided the cylinders are sufficiently large. A unidimensionnal magnetic liquid is thus realized. The structural properties of this colloidal assembly have been investigated by SAXS, and the specific features of the scattering spectra are analysed and interpreted. One of the remarkable results is the evidence of depletion interactions between the particles and the inner walls of the cylinders inside which particles are located.