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Publication

Long-ranged attraction between charged polystyrene spheres at aqueous interfaces

Chen, Wei
Tan, Susheng
Ng, Tai-Kai
Ford, Warren T.
Tong, Penger
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Abstract

We report an optical and atomic force microscopic study of interactions between charged polystyrene spheres at a water-air interface. Optical observations of bonded particle clusters and formation of circular chainlike structures at the interface demonstrate that the interaction potential is of dipole origin. Atomic force microscope phase images show patchy domains on the colloidal surface, indicating that the surface charge distribution is not uniform as is commonly believed. Such surface heterogeneity introduces inplane dipoles, leading to an attraction at short interparticle distances.

Date
2005-11-15