Based on Monte Carlo (MC) computer simulations we study the structure formation of a system of magnetic nanorods. Our model particles consist of fused spheres with permanent magnetic dipole moments, as inspired by recent experiments. The resulting system behaves significantly different from a system of hard (non-magnetic) rods or magnetic rods with a single longitudinal dipole. In particular, we observe for the magnetic nanorods a significant decrease of the percolation threshold (as compared to non-magnetic rods) at low densities, and a stabilization of the high-density nematic phase. Moreover, the percolation threshold is tunable by an external magnetic field.
@article{arxiv.1203.4707,
title = {Percolation and orientational ordering in systems of magnetic nanorods},
author = {Carlos E. Alvarez and Sabine H. L. Klapp},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1203.4707},
year = {2012}
}