Defect-mediated colloidal interactions in a nematic-phase discotic solvent

Interactions between colloidal inclusions dispersed in a nematic discotic liquid-crystalline solvent were investigated for different solute–solvent coupling conditions. The solvent was treated at the level of Gay–Berne discogens. Colloidal inclusions were coupled to the solvent with a generalized sphere-ellipsoid interaction potential. Energy strengths were varied to promote either homeotropic or planar mesogenic anchoring. Colloid–colloid interactions were modeled using a soft, excluded-volume contribution. Single-colloid and colloid-pair samples were evolved with Molecular Dynamics simulations. Equilibrium trajectories were used to characterize structural and dynamical properties of topological defects arising in the mesomorphic phase due to colloidal inclusions. Boojums were observed with planar anchoring, whereas Saturn rings were obtained with homeotropic anchoring. The manner in which these topological defects drive colloidal interactions was assessed through a free energy analysis, taking into account the relative orientation between a colloidal dyad and the nematic-field director. The dynamical behavior of defects was qualitatively surveyed from equilibrium trajectories borne from computer simulations.