Charged hydrophobic colloids at an oil–aqueous phase interface

Colm P. Kelleher, Anna Wang, Guillermo Iván Guerrero-García, Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Rodrigo E. Guerra, Bhaskar Jyoti Krishnatreya, David G. Grier, Vinothan N. Manoharan, and Paul M. Chaikin
Phys. Rev. E 92, 062306 – Published 14 December 2015

Abstract

Hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloidal particles, when dispersed in oil with a relatively high dielectric constant, can become highly charged. In the presence of an interface with a conducting aqueous phase, image-charge effects lead to strong binding of colloidal particles to the interface, even though the particles are wetted very little by the aqueous phase. We study both the behavior of individual colloidal particles as they approach the interface and the interactions between particles that are already interfacially bound. We demonstrate that using particles which are minimally wetted by the aqueous phase allows us to isolate and study those interactions which are due solely to charging of the particle surface in oil. Finally, we show that these interactions can be understood by a simple image-charge model in which the particle charge q is the sole fitting parameter.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 9 October 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.92.062306

©2015 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Polymers & Soft Matter

Authors & Affiliations

Colm P. Kelleher*

  • Department of Physics and Center for Soft Matter Research, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003, USA

Anna Wang

  • Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

Guillermo Iván Guerrero-García

  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA and Instituto de Fisica, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Andrew D. Hollingsworth, Rodrigo E. Guerra, Bhaskar Jyoti Krishnatreya, and David G. Grier

  • Department of Physics and Center for Soft Matter Research, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003, USA

Vinothan N. Manoharan

  • Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA and Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA

Paul M. Chaikin

  • Department of Physics and Center for Soft Matter Research, New York University, 4 Washington Place, New York, New York 10003, USA

  • *Corresponding author: cpk235@nyu.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 92, Iss. 6 — December 2015

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review E

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×