Layering of bidisperse charged nanoparticles in sedimentation. Issue 20 (13th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Xufeng; Biesheuvel, P. M.; Cölfen, Helmut; Spruijt, Evan
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 16:Issue 20(2020)
• Page Start: 4718
• Page End: 4722
• Publication Date: 2020-05-13
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00588f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : The layering of nanoparticles can be quantitatively in situ measured and tuned, which agrees very well with the theoretical calculations. Abstract : Bidisperse mixtures of charged nanoparticles form separate layers upon centrifugation as a result of minimization of the system's free energy in sedimentation-diffusion equilibrium. Different factors were investigated experimentally for their effects on the layering, and are supported by theoretical calculations of the full sedimentation profiles. Surprisingly, lighter/smaller nanoparticles can even sink below heavier/larger ones when the particle surface charge is carefully tuned. This study provides deeper insights into the control of layering in polydisperse particle mixtures during sedimentation.