Strong attractions and repulsions mediated by monovalent salts

Journal Article · 23 October 2017 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1713168114 · OSTI ID:1402121

Li, Yaohua ^[1]; Girard, Martin ^[1]; Shen, Meng ^[1]; Millan, Jaime Andres ^[1]; Olvera de la Cruz, Monica ^[2]

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1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208,
2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208,, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208,, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208

Significance The physical properties of proteins and polyions in electrolyte solutions are of crucial importance for understanding biological processes and for controlling biotechnological processes. The concentration of salt controls the range and strength of the interactions in these complex electrolytes. Here, multiscale coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations reveal long-range interactions between nanoparticles in aqueous solutions at high monovalent salt concentrations. The simulations explain the crystallization of nanoparticles even when they are strongly charged and explain the reentrant attractive to repulsive to attractive interactions as the nanoparticle charge density increases in high monovalent salt-concentration conditions.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: 3J-30081-0056A/3J-30081-0056B
• OSTI ID: 1402121
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Vol. 114 Journal Issue: 45; ISSN 0027-8424
• Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English