Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: We employ a novel Monte Carlo simulation scheme to elucidate the stabilization of neutral colloidal microspheres by means of highly charged nanoparticles [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 98, 8950 (2001))]]. In accordance with the experimental observations, we find that small nanoparticle concentrations induce an effective repulsion that prevents gelation caused by the intrinsic van der Waals attraction between colloids. Higher nanoparticle concentrations induce an attractive potential which is, however, qualitatively different from the regular depletion attraction. We also show how colloid-nanoparticle size asymmetry and nanoparticle charge can be used to manipulate the effective interactions.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Authors: Jiwen Liu, Erik Luijten
Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Language: English
Subfield: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1966766352