Development of model colloidal liquid crystals and the kinetics of the isotropic-smectic transition

We have prepared a homologous series of filamentous viruses with varying co ntour length using molecular closing techniques. These viruses are monodisp erse enough to form a stable smectic phase. Two systems are studied. The fi rst system consists of viruses to the surfaces of which the polymers are co valently bound. Through studies of the isotropic-cholesteric phase transiti on we demonstrate that covalently attached polymers alter the effective dia meter of the virus. Additionally, we have produced mixtures of viruses whos e ratio of effective diameters varies by a factor of five. The second syste m is composed of mixtures of rod-like viruses and non-absorbing Gaussian po lymers. With this system we study the kinetics of the isotropic-smectic pha se transition and describe observations of a number of novel metastable str uctures of unexpected complexity.