Gelation of particles with short-range attraction

Peter J. Lu (), Emanuela Zaccarelli, Fabio Ciulla, Andrew B. Schofield, Francesco Sciortino and David A. Weitz
Additional contact information
Peter J. Lu: Department of Physics,
Emanuela Zaccarelli: Dipartimento di Fisica,
Fabio Ciulla: Dipartimento di Fisica,
Andrew B. Schofield: The School of Physics, University of Edinburgh
Francesco Sciortino: Dipartimento di Fisica,
David A. Weitz: Department of Physics,

Nature, 2008, vol. 453, issue 7194, 499-503

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.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature06931

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