title: Thermodynamics of nanocluster phases: a unifying theory.
abstract: We propose a unifying, analytical theory accounting for the self-organization of colloidal systems in nanocluster or microcluster phases. We predict the distribution of cluster sizes with respect to interaction parameters and colloid concentration. In particular, we anticipate a proportionality regime where the mean cluster size grows proportionally to the concentration, as observed in several experiments. We emphasize the interest in a predictive theory in soft matter, nanotechnologies, and biophysics.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, UMR CNRS-UPS 5152, Université Toulouse 3, 31062 Toulouse Cedex, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Destainville
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foret