Interparticle-friction-induced anomalous colloid structure

Abstract Interparticle frictional interactions are ubiquitous in colloidal systems, exerting a profound influence on their structural and physical attributes. In this study, we employed Brownian dynamics simulations to explore the non-equilibrium dynamics in colloidal systems, focusing particularly on the role of tangential friction and its influence on the macroscopic physical properties of colloids. We found that the disruption of instantaneous time-reversal symmetry by tangential frictional interactions can trigger the self-assembly of colloidal systems into intricate network configurations, and these novel structures exhibit unique depletion force and rheological properties that set them apart from traditional colloidal gel systems. These findings not only help deepen our comprehension of the self-assembly phenomena in non-equilibrium colloidal systems but also offer fresh insights for the development of colloidal materials with tailored characteristics.