Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 51, Number 4, August II 2000
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 461 - 467 | |
Section | Interdisciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2000-00516-1 | |
Published online | 01 September 2002 |
Ground state of two unlike charged colloids: An analogy with ionic bonding
Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung - Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
Corresponding author: messina@mpip-mainz-mpg.de
Received:
4
April
2000
Accepted:
22
June
2000
In this letter, we study the ground state of two spherical macroions of identical
radius, but asymmetric bare charge . Electroneutrality of
the system is ensured by the presence of the surrounding divalent counterions.
Using Molecular Dynamics simulations within the framework of the primitive model,
we show that the ground state of such a system consists of an overcharged and
an undercharged colloid. For a given macroion separation the stability of these
ionized-like states is a function of the difference (
)
of neutralizing counterions
and
. Furthermore the degree
of ionization, or equivalently, the degree of overcharging, is also governed
by the distance separation of the macroions. The natural analogy with ionic
bonding is briefly discussed.
PACS: 82.70.Dd – Colloids / 61.20.Qg – Structure of associated liquids: electrolytes, molten salts, etc / 41.20.-q – Applied classical electromagnetism
© EDP Sciences, 2000
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