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Gelation of particles with short-range attraction

Author

Listed:
  • Peter J. Lu

    (Department of Physics,)

  • Emanuela Zaccarelli

    (Dipartimento di Fisica,
    CNR-INFM-SOFT, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy)

  • Fabio Ciulla

    (Dipartimento di Fisica,)

  • Andrew B. Schofield

    (The School of Physics, University of Edinburgh)

  • Francesco Sciortino

    (Dipartimento di Fisica,
    CNR-INFM-SOFT, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Piazzale A. Moro 2, 00185 Roma, Italy)

  • David A. Weitz

    (Department of Physics,
    SEAS, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA)

Abstract

Gelation: Short-range attraction Nanoscale or colloidal particles change the properties of materials, imparting solid-like behaviour to a wide variety of complex fluids. This behaviour arises when particles aggregate to form mesoscopic clusters and networks. Numerous scenarios for gelation have been proposed, but no consensus has emerged. Lu et al. report experiments showing that gelation of spherical particles with isotropic, short-range attractions is initiated by spinodal decomposition; this thermodynamic instability triggers the formation of density fluctuations, leading to spanning clusters that dynamically arrest to create a gel. This simple picture of gelation should apply to any particle system with short-range attractions.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter J. Lu & Emanuela Zaccarelli & Fabio Ciulla & Andrew B. Schofield & Francesco Sciortino & David A. Weitz, 2008. "Gelation of particles with short-range attraction," Nature, Nature, vol. 453(7194), pages 499-503, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:453:y:2008:i:7194:d:10.1038_nature06931
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06931
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    Cited by:

    1. Jack E. Bramham & Alexander P. Golovanov, 2022. "Temporal and spatial characterisation of protein liquid-liquid phase separation using NMR spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Gnan, Nicoletta, 2023. "Lecture notes of the 15th international summer school on Fundamental Problems in Statistical Physics: Colloidal dispersions," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 631(C).

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