Phase separation of stable colloidal clusters

Formation of stable clusters in colloidal suspensions.

The experimental evidence and theoretical explanations of stable cluster formation in colloidal suspensions are reviewed. The clusters form in the intermediate range between a stable suspension built up by singlets and the irreversible coagulation or gelation of the suspension. The stable clusters develop as a result of a balance between competing short range attraction and long range repulsion...

Structure factor scaling in colloidal phase separation.

The dynamical scaling hypothesis for the structure factor, S (q) , in depletion-driven colloidal phase separation is studied by carrying out Brownian dynamics simulations. A true dynamical scaling is observed for shallow quenches into the two-phase coexistence region. In such a quench, compact clusters nucleate and grow with time and there is only one characteristic length scale in the system a...

Charge renormalization and phase separation in colloidal suspensions

– We explore the effects of counterion condensation on fluid-fluid phase separation in charged colloidal suspensions. It is found that formation of double layers around the colloidal particles stabilizes suspensions against phase separation. Addition of salt, however, produces an instability which, in principle, can lead to a fluid-fluid separation. The instability, however, is so weak that it ...

Adsorption, aggregation and phase separation in colloidal systems

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF THE PHASE TRANSITIONS IN CLUSTERS

We have studied the phase transitions in atomic clusters by molecular dynamics simulation, assuming Lennard-Jones interatomic pair potential. Calculations are performed by DAP parallel computer. The results are analyzed by simulating their orientational distribution plots (dot-plot), and neutron diffraction patterns. It is shown that all the main features of the bulk phase transitions are e...