Search arXiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · cond-mat/0203144

Polymer induced depletion potentials in polymer-colloid mixtures

A. A. Louis·P. G. Bolhuis·E. J. Meijer·J. P. Hansen
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

The depletion interactions between two colloidal plates or between two colloidal spheres, induced by interacting polymers in a good solvent, are calculated theoretically and by computer simulations. A simple analytical theory is shown to be quantitatively accurate for case of two plates. A related depletion potential is derived for two spheres; it also agrees very well with direct computer simulations. Theories based on ideal polymers show important deviations with increasing polymer concentration: They overestimate the range of the depletion potential between two plates or two spheres at all densities, with the largest relative change occurring in the dilute regime. They underestimate the well depth at contact for the case of two plates, but overestimate it for two spheres. Depletion potentials are also calculated using a coarse graining approach which represents the polymers as ``soft colloids'': good agreement is found in the dilute regime. Finally, the effect of the polymers on colloid-colloid osmotic virial coefficients is related to phase behavior of polymer-colloid mixtures.

Explore related subjects

cond-mat.softcond-mat.stat-mech

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

A. A. Louis, P. G. Bolhuis, E. J. Meijer, J. P. Hansen. 2002-03-06. Polymer induced depletion potentials in polymer-colloid mixtures. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1483299

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Reciprocal theorem for ion-releasing colloidal particles

We describe a generalization of the reciprocal theorem for particles suspended in electrolyte solutions and subjected to an electric field that could be either applied or emerged spontaneously. Attention is focused on catalytic colloids that release ions. The power of the generalization is to capture the effect of formation of a secondary cloud around a catalytic particle, which is equivalent to accounting for an excess charge $Q$ of a system. Our results show that the propulsion speed of catalytic particles has an extra contribution proportional to $Q$ and an external field $E_{\infty}$. The derived equation for $Q$ reveals that its sign is defined by the difference in the ion diffusivity and the magnitude is controlled by the average flux of ions from the surface. We demonstrate the application of the generalized theorem to electro- and diffusiophoresis of homogeneously releasing ions passive particles, as well as to a self-propulsion of inhomogeneous active particles (microswimmers). It is shown that whilst in some situations the extra term in the reciprocal theorem vanishes or has a little effect on the particle mobility, in many others it may dramatically change its magnitude, and even sign. In addition, the relevance of our results for microswimmer interactions is discussed briefly.

cond-mat.soft↗
arXiv2026

Multigeometric Breathing Mode Framework for viruses

The estimation of the breathing mode frequency for viral capsids remains a persistent challenge across literature which spawned various frameworks and methodologies. However, discrepancies were observed between the experimental Low Frequency Raman Scattering (LFRS) and calculated pre-existing values. To solve this discrepancy, we propose a framework which is developed to determine the breathing-mode frequency by modelling the virus as a macroscopic coupled harmonic oscillator. By integrating mass-loading directly into the classical elastodynamic equations, this model yields an analytical expression that couples the system's total inertia with its specific geometry. Moreover, the viruses are segregated according to their geometries into three coordinates to acquire their respective geometric eigen values. Here we illustrate how the proposed Multigeometric Breathing mode Framework for Virus (MBFV) outperforms prior models by yielding closer values than the pre-existing frameworks upon validating against LFRS.

cond-mat.soft↗
arXiv2026

Insight into ordering at nematic twist-bend interfaces

Twist-bend nematics formed by achiral particles support heliconical domains of opposite handedness. Using Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations of repulsive bent particles, we study the interface between two such domains. Rather than a gradually untwisting texture, we find a density-modulated splay-bend-twist structure. The density modulation is along the helix axis with a period of approximately half the bulk pitch, while the twist is locally enhanced in magnitude, alternates in sign, and vanishes only on an undulating surface. An explicit director interpolation shows how gradients along the helix axis and across the interface combine to produce an undulating zero-twist surface.

cond-mat.soft↗