We report an extensive numerical study of a charged colloidal system with competing short-range depletion attraction and long-range electrostatic repulsion. By analyzing the cluster properties, we identify two distinct regions in the phase diagram: a state composed of stable finite-size clusters, whose relative interactions are dominated by long-range repulsion, and a percolating network. Both states are found to dynamically arrest at low temperatures, providing evidence of the existence of two distinct non-ergodic states in these systems: a Wigner glass of clusters and a gel.
Colloidal systems with competing interactions: from an arrested repulsive cluster phase to a gel / Jcf, Toledano; Sciortino, Francesco; Emanuela, Zaccarelli. - In: SOFT MATTER. - ISSN 1744-683X. - 5:12(2009), pp. 2390-2398. [10.1039/b818169a]
Colloidal systems with competing interactions: from an arrested repulsive cluster phase to a gel
SCIORTINO, Francesco;
2009
Abstract
We report an extensive numerical study of a charged colloidal system with competing short-range depletion attraction and long-range electrostatic repulsion. By analyzing the cluster properties, we identify two distinct regions in the phase diagram: a state composed of stable finite-size clusters, whose relative interactions are dominated by long-range repulsion, and a percolating network. Both states are found to dynamically arrest at low temperatures, providing evidence of the existence of two distinct non-ergodic states in these systems: a Wigner glass of clusters and a gel.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
