Hunting mermaids in real space: known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns

We review efforts to realise so-called mermaid (or short-ranged attraction/long ranged repulsion) interactions in 3d real space. The repulsive and attractive contributions to these interactions in charged colloids and colloid-polymer mixtures, may be accurately realised, by comparing particle-resolv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soft matter 2018, Vol.14 (2), p.42-428
Main Author: Royall, C. Patrick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Colloids
Computer simulation
Dielectric constant
Dielectric strength
Hunting
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Summary:We review efforts to realise so-called mermaid (or short-ranged attraction/long ranged repulsion) interactions in 3d real space. The repulsive and attractive contributions to these interactions in charged colloids and colloid-polymer mixtures, may be accurately realised, by comparing particle-resolved studies with colloids to computer simulation. However, when we review work where these interactions have been combined, despite early indications of behaviour consistent with predictions, closer analysis reveals that in the non-aqueous systems used for particle-resolved studies, the idea of summing the attractive and repulsive components leads to wild deviations with experiment. We suggest that the origin lies in the weak ion dissociation in these systems with low dielectric constant solvents. Ultimately this leads even to non-centro-symmetric interactions and a new level of complexity in these systems. We review efforts to realise so-called mermaid (or short-ranged attraction/long ranged repulsion) interactions in 3d real space.
ISSN:1744-683X
1744-6848
DOI:10.1039/c8sm00400e