Colloids in external electric and magnetic fields: Colloidal crystals, pinning, chain formation, and electrokinetics

The motion of dilute and concentrated dispersions of colloids by external electric or magnetic fields is discussed. Electrokinetics is studied for colloids in confinement, where the confining walls can be flat or rough. As an example for a rough wall superhydrophobic surfaces are chosen. It is shown that the reduced friction at the water-air interface is insufficient to enhance electro-osmosis. Magnetic particles are pulled through a crystalline matrix formed by nonmagnetic colloids to investigate local melting and recrystallization of a crystalline matrix. The average strain field is calculated and the reorganization processes are compared to those induced by shear fields. Using single domain, magnetically blocked particles of different shape and surface characteristics, the interplay between particles, their environment and an external field is investigated.