By reviewing experimental and theoretical works, we discuss the phase diagram of Laponite suspensions, with the aim of clarifying several issues that have caused a long-time controversy on the system. We claim that, if aging and sample preparation are correctly taken into account, a unifying picture emerges from different experimental studies. Multiple non-ergodic states are identified, including a low concentration equilibrium gel and a high concentration Wigner glass in the absence of salt. These findings are critically discussed also with respect to recent evidence of phase separation at extremely low densities and to existing theoretical and numerical works.
The gelation of water suspension of a synthetic clay (Laponite) has been studied by dynamic light scattering in a wide range of clay weight concentration (C(w)=0.003-0.031). At variance with previous determination, indicating a stable liquid phase for C(w)
We have performed dc transport and optical conductivity measurements on purified and potassium doped thick films of single walled carbon nanotubes. The pristine sample is characterized by a metallic (Drude) response of the optical properties despite the non-metallic behavior in the dc resistivity measurements. Even though the spectral weight of the metallic component in the electrodynamic response increases with doping, in agreement with the trend of the dc transport properties, there is a quantitative mismatch between the optical and dc transport. Comparing the dc and optical conductivity measurements we conclude that potassium doping influences differently the non-metallic tube-tube contact regions and the intrinsic on-tube transport.