Confinement and Salt-Induced Long-Range Attraction in Colloids – Elshad Allahyarov
Date: Thu. April 13th, 2006, 4:15 pm-5:15 pmLocation: Rockefeller 301
One of the long-standing problems in colloid science is whether there is like-charge attraction or repulsion between colloid particles in confinement and whether there are stable facets and voids in colloidal crystals. Using computer simulations with explicit microions, we show here that colloidal attraction is mediated via space charges opposite in sign to the colloidal charge. The space charging only occurs at low (but finite) added salt concentrations and in a complex geometric environment of the colloids. This implies a novel control over colloidal interactions and transport in charge-patterned microfluidic devices and has relevance for protein aggregation.