scholarly journals Cluster Morphology of Colloidal Systems With Competing Interactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Néstor E. Valadez-Pérez ◽  
Yun Liu ◽  
Ramón Castañeda-Priego

Reversible aggregation of purely short-ranged attractive colloidal particles leads to the formation of clusters with a fractal dimension that only depends on the second virial coefficient. The addition of a long-ranged repulsion to the potential modifies the way in which the particles aggregate into clusters and form intermediate range order structures, and have a strong influence on the dynamical and rheological properties of colloidal dispersions. The understanding of the effect of a long-ranged repulsive potential on the aggregation mechanisms is scientifically and technologically important for a large variety of physical, chemical and biological systems, including concentrated protein solutions. In this work, the equilibrium cluster morphology of particles interacting through a short-ranged attraction plus a long-ranged repulsion is extensively studied by means of Monte Carlo computer simulations. Our findings point out that the addition of the repulsion affects the resulting cluster morphology and allows one to have a full control on the compactness or fractal dimension of the aggregates at a given thermodynamic condition. This allows us to manipulate the reversible aggregation process and, therefore, to finely tune the resulting building blocks of materials at large length scales.

Soft Matter ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiawei Lu ◽  
Xiangyu Bu ◽  
Xinghua Zhang ◽  
Bing Liu

The shapes of colloidal particles are crucial to the self-assembled superstructures. Understanding the relationship between the shapes of building blocks and the resulting crystal structures is an important fundamental question....


Author(s):  
V.Yu. Fokina ◽  
E.А. Kizima ◽  
I.V. Miheev ◽  
A.I. Ivankov ◽  
V.M. Garamus

Two types of fullerene C60 water dispersions were investigated by a small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering. As a result, structural parameters of fullerene aggregates were obtained. The water dispersions were obtained by the solvent-exchange technique and by huge dilution of initial C60/Nmethylpyrrolidone solution. The structure organization of water dispersions is considered in respect to their technique preparation. It was shown that fullerene aggregates were characterized by highly polydispersity in size for all dispersions. In the case of son/nC60 dispersion it was found that fullerenes formed aggregates with a dense nucleus (namely a surface fractal) with a radius of 58 ± 1 nm and a fractal dimension of 2.3. In turn, the nmp/nC60 system was characterized by the branched aggregates with fractal dimension 1.5 and bimodal particle size distribution.


1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 117-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj Rajagopalan

The classical theory of coagulation relies on relating the rate of interparticle collisions to the interaction forces, and thus to the physical and chemical parameters of the dispersion, through kinetic arguments, and is restricted to dilute systems. Here, we present a modern, thermodynamic theory capable of predicting stability diagrams for dense as well as dilute dispersions. Although based on statistical thermodynamics, the method is simple to use and requires only the second virial coefficient of osmotic pressure of the dispersion. All the information necessary for applying the model to arbitrary dispersions is given. The method is illustrated for a model colloidal potential, and it is shown how static light scattering measurements can be used for predicting the stability diagrams when information about the colloidal forces are not known in advance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Zonglin Yi ◽  
To Ngai

The properties of binary colloidal systems have gained the interest of researchers because they have much richer structures than their one-component counterpart. Continuing efforts are being made on the theoretical side on binary colloidal systems, while many issues remained unsolved for the lack of solid experimental supports, especially for study in the field of two-dimensional (2D) binary colloids system. Oil–water interfaces can serve as a good stringent 2D confinement for colloidal particles and can avoid anomalous problems caused by the quasi-two-dimensional environment in previous experimental reports. In this work, we conduct experimental research of binary colloids system in an oil–water interface to revisit theoretical predication. We measure an ultra-long-range attraction and discuss the possible mechanism of this attraction by comparing the experimental result with existing model and theory. This study could contribute more understanding of the binary colloidal system in both experimental aspects and theoretical aspects.


1996 ◽  
Vol 432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric.D. Morrison

AbstractVanadium oxide deposited in thin layers from aqueous colloidal dispersions exhibits electronic conductivity by a small polaron hopping conduction mechanism. Conductivity and static dissipative properties of coatings are unaffected by changes in humidity. Because vanadium oxide is highly colored, the deposition of effective antistatic coatings which are transparent and colorless requires that the percolative (networking forming) properties of the colloidal particles be maximized. The percolative properties of the colloid are strongly influenced by morphology of the dispersed particles and the extent to which they are well dispersed in the aquasol. These properties are determined by the synthetic route to the colloid. Vanadium oxide is the most potent antistatic agent known and has been found to provide antistatic properties even when as little as 1 milligram per square meter is used.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 2355-2364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shintaro Kawano ◽  
Toshiyuki Kida ◽  
Mitsuru Akashi ◽  
Hirofumi Sato ◽  
Motohiro Shizuma ◽  
...  

Background: Emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles are known as Pickering emulsions. To date, soft microgel particles as well as inorganic and organic particles have been utilized as Pickering emulsifiers. Although cyclodextrin (CD) works as an attractive emulsion stabilizer through the formation of a CD–oil complex at the oil–water interface, a high concentration of CD is normally required. Our research focuses on an effective Pickering emulsifier based on a soft colloidal CD polymer (CD nanogel) with a unique surface-active property. Results: CD nanogels were prepared by crosslinking heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin with phenyl diisocyanate and subsequent immersion of the resulting polymer in water. A dynamic light scattering study shows that primary CD nanogels with 30–50 nm diameter assemble into larger CD nanogels with 120 nm diameter by an increase in the concentration of CD nanogel from 0.01 to 0.1 wt %. The CD nanogel has a surface-active property at the air–water interface, which reduces the surface tension of water. The CD nanogel works as an effective Pickering emulsion stabilizer even at a low concentration (0.1 wt %), forming stable oil-in-water emulsions through interfacial adsorption by the CD nanogels. Conclusion: Soft CD nanogel particles adsorb at the oil–water interface with an effective coverage by forming a strong interconnected network and form a stable Pickering emulsion. The adsorption property of CD nanogels on the droplet surface has great potential to become new microcapsule building blocks with porous surfaces. These microcapsules may act as stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and nanocontainers.


2010 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo R.A. Lima ◽  
Evaristo C. Biscaia Jr. ◽  
Mathias Boström ◽  
Frederico W. Tavares

Ion-specific interactions between two colloidal particles are calculated using a modified Poisson-Boltzmann (PB)equationandMonteCarlo(MC)simulations. PBequationspresentgoodresultsofionicconcentration profiles around a macroion, especially for salt solutions containing monovalent ions. These equations include not only electrostatic interactions, but also dispersion potentials originated from polarizabilities of ions and proteins. This enables us to predict ion-specific properties of colloidal systems. We compared results obtained from the modified PB equation with those from MC simulations and integral equations. Phase diagrams and osmotic second virial coefficients are also presented for different salt solutions at different pH and ionic strengths, in agreement with the experimental results observed Hofmeister effects. In order to include the water structure and hydration effect, we have used an effective interaction obtained from molecular dynamics of each ion and a hydrophobic surface combined with PB equation. The method has been proved to be efficient and suitable for describing phenomena where the water structure close to the interface plays an essential role. Important thermodynamic properties related to protein aggregation, essential in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, can be obtained from the method shown here.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Perry ◽  
David Julian McClements

There are many areas in medicine and industry where it would be advantageous to orally deliver bioactive proteins and peptides (BPPs), including ACE inhibitors, antimicrobials, antioxidants, hormones, enzymes, and vaccines. A major challenge in this area is that many BPPs degrade during storage of the product or during passage through the human gut, thereby losing their activity. Moreover, many BPPs have undesirable taste profiles (such as bitterness or astringency), which makes them unpleasant to consume. These challenges can often be overcome by encapsulating them within colloidal particles that protect them from any adverse conditions in their environment, but then release them at the desired site-of-action, which may be inside the gut or body. This article begins with a discussion of BPP characteristics and the hurdles involved in their delivery. It then highlights the characteristics of colloidal particles that can be manipulated to create effective BPP-delivery systems, including particle composition, size, and interfacial properties. The factors impacting the functional performance of colloidal delivery systems are then highlighted, including their loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency, protective properties, retention/release properties, and stability. Different kinds of colloidal delivery systems suitable for encapsulation of BPPs are then reviewed, such as microemulsions, emulsions, solid lipid particles, liposomes, and microgels. Finally, some examples of the use of colloidal delivery systems for delivery of specific BPPs are given, including hormones, enzymes, vaccines, antimicrobials, and ACE inhibitors. An emphasis is on the development of food-grade colloidal delivery systems, which could be used in functional or medical food applications. The knowledge presented should facilitate the design of more effective vehicles for the oral delivery of bioactive proteins and peptides.


Soft Matter ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 3913-3919 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Edlund ◽  
O. Lindgren ◽  
M. Nilsson Jacobi

Patchy colloidal particles are promising candidates for building blocks in directed self-assembly.


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