Figure 1

(a) Transient clusters of typically 5–10 particles aligning side by side (e.g., shown by the arrow) for a Se suspension (the scale bar: $5\mu \mathrm{m}$). (b) The numbers of the clusters increased with particle density, and then layering of 2–5 clusters occurred locally. The scale bar for (a) is the same as for (b) and (c). (c) An Sm region covered with the grown clusters. In the dark regions (e.g., shown by the arrow), only the ends of the particles were actually observed. (d) An arrangement of the particle ends (light dotlike entities) in a dark region of a Sm layer (the scale bar: $3\mu \mathrm{m}$).Reuse & Permissions

Figure 2

(a) The single particles (small light dot, $L=0.644\mu \mathrm{m}$ and $W=0.137\mu \mathrm{m}$) and a separated dense phase (light wormlike ones, the arrow) for a FeOOH suspension kept in a space less than $5\mu \mathrm{m}$ thick [the scale bar for (b), $10\mu \mathrm{m}$, is the same as for (a) and (c)]. (b),(c) Particle ordering for a $\beta$-FeOOH suspension; (b) many stringlike entities or the side of matlike 2D assemblies of the particles ($2–25\mu \mathrm{m}$ in side length) in a high density region. (c) Four neighboring Sm domains (with a layer thickness of $0.76\mu \mathrm{m}$) at a higher density. (d) The $p\mathrm{H}$ dependence of the critical (minimal) volume fraction $\eta$ of the $\beta$-FeOOH particles for the Sm phase formation. Two glass test tubes, respectively, containing $\beta$-FeOOH suspensions with $p\mathrm{H}$ 1.34 (attractive: left) and 4.1 (repulsive: right), exhibit $I(\mathrm{\text{upper}})/\mathrm{S}\mathrm{m}(\mathrm{\text{lower}},\mathrm{\text{iridescent}})$ phase separation.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 3

(a) Arrangement of the particles (light needlelike entities) in an $N$ phase for a NDG31 suspension (the scale bar: $5\mu \mathrm{m}$). (b)–(d) Pre-Sm regions for a NDG10 suspension; (b) a widely extended $N$ region, where local end matching of the particles (the arrow) is seen here and there. The scale bar, $10\mu \mathrm{m}$, is the same as for (c) and (d). (c) Double and treble layering of the laterally grown, clear-cut clusters (the arrows) in an $N$ region. (d) A Sm structure at a further higher density region.Reuse & Permissions

Figure 4

Sm and pre-Sm regions in the $N$ phase for a NDG35 suspension. The boundary line near the center of this image is an $N\mathrm{\text{−}}N$ interface already appearing in the $N$ phase (the scale bar: $10\mu \mathrm{m}$).Reuse & Permissions