INS4-1388
Probing the Structural Origins of Amorphous Stability through Colloids
Topic
S4. Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
When and Where
Oct 1, 2026
17:05 - 17:20
Room 106
Session Chairs
Ji-Won KIM
Presenter(s)
Hyerim Hwang (Ewha Womans University)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Phase transitions dictate how materials acquire structure and function, yet the microscopic origins of amorphous stability remain challenging to resolve in atomic systems. In this talk, I present colloidal systems as particle-resolved experimental platforms that enable direct real-space imaging of phase transitions together with quantitative extraction of structural, dynamic, and mechanical descriptors.
Using binary colloidal alloys inspired by Cu-Zr metallic glasses, we investigate how local geometric frustration governs amorphous formation and mechanical stability. Voronoi-based topological analysis and motif regularity mapping reveal that glass-forming compositions preserve local ordering motifs while suppressing the propagation of long-range order. We further show that engineered particle non-uniformity alone stabilizes amorphous structures under near-equilibrium assembly conditions by generating persistent topological defects that arrest crystallization.
These findings establish particle-resolved colloidal systems as powerful model platforms for uncovering the structural determinants of amorphous stability. By converting complex materials formation into physically interpretable datasets, this approach provides a foundation for physics- informed AI and the reverse engineering of complex materials.
Using binary colloidal alloys inspired by Cu-Zr metallic glasses, we investigate how local geometric frustration governs amorphous formation and mechanical stability. Voronoi-based topological analysis and motif regularity mapping reveal that glass-forming compositions preserve local ordering motifs while suppressing the propagation of long-range order. We further show that engineered particle non-uniformity alone stabilizes amorphous structures under near-equilibrium assembly conditions by generating persistent topological defects that arrest crystallization.
These findings establish particle-resolved colloidal systems as powerful model platforms for uncovering the structural determinants of amorphous stability. By converting complex materials formation into physically interpretable datasets, this approach provides a foundation for physics- informed AI and the reverse engineering of complex materials.
