Eur. Phys. J. E (2018) 41: 136
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2018-11746-0

Regular Article

Nematic-isotropic transition in a density-functional theory for hard spheroidal colloids

¹ Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo, 05314-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
² Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA

^* e-mail: edusantos18@esp.puc-rio.br

Received: 3 April 2018
Accepted: 26 October 2018
Published online: 26 November 2018

Abstract

We introduce a density-functional formalism based on the Parsons-Lee and the generalized van der Waals theories in order to describe the thermodynamics of anisotropic particle systems with steric interactions. For ellipsoids of revolution, the orientational distribution function is obtained by minimizing the free energy functional and the equations of state are determined. The system exhibits a nematic-isotropic discontinuous transition, characterized by a phase separation between nematic and isotropic phases at finite as well low packing fractions. The model presents a phase behavior which is in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations for finite aspect ratios.