Using Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations we investigate the impact of shear flow on structural and dynamical properties of a system of charged colloids confined to a narrow slit pore. Our model consists of spherical microions interacting through a Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) and a soft-sphere potential. The DLVO parameters were chosen according to a system of moderately charged silica particles (with valence Z~35) in a solvent of low ionic strength. At the confinement conditions considered, the colloids form two well-pronounced layers. In the present study we investigate shear-induced transitions of the translational order and dynamics in the layers, including a discussion of the translational diffusion. In particular, we show that diffusion in the shear-melted state can be described by an analytical model involving a single shear-driven particle in a harmonic trap. We also explore the emergence of zigzag motion characterized by spatiotemporal oscillations of the particles in the layers in the vorticity direction. Similar behavior has been recently observed in experiments of much thicker colloidal films.

Using Brownian Dynamics (BD) simulations we investigate non-equilibrium transitions of sheared colloidal films under controlled shear stress σxz. In our approach the shear rate [small gamma, Greek, dot above] is a dynamical variable, which relaxes on a time scale τc such that the instantaneous, configuration-dependent stress σxz(t) approaches a pre-imposed value. Investigating the dynamics under this "feedback-control" scheme we find unique behavior in regions where the flow curve σxz([small gamma, Greek, dot above]) of the uncontrolled system is monotonic. However, in non-monotonic regions our method allows to select between dynamical states characterized by different in-plane structure and viscosities. Indeed, the final state strongly depends on τc relative to an intrinsic relaxation time of the uncontrolled system. The critical values of τc are estimated on the basis of a simple model.

Using Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations we investigate a dense system of charged colloids exposed to shear flow in a confined (slit-pore) geometry. The equilibrium system at zero flow consists of three, well-pronounced layers with square-like crystalline in-plane structure. We demonstrate that, for sufficiently large shear rates, the middle layer separates into two sublayers where the particles organize into moving lanes with opposite velocities. The formation of this micro-laned state results in a destruction of the applied shear profile. It has a strong impact not only on the structure of the system, but also on its rheology as measured by the stress tensor. At higher shear rates we observe a disordered state and finally a recrystallization reminiscent of the behavior of bilayer films. We expect the shear-induced laning to be a generic feature of thin films with three or more layers.

No abstract