title: Bridging interactions and selective nanoparticle aggregation mediated by monovalent cations.
abstract: Selective aggregation and precipitation of like-charged nanoparticles (NPs) covered with carboxylate ligands can be induced by different monovalent cations. The ordering of critical concentrations required for NP precipitation is Cs(+) ≫ K(+) > Li(+) > Na(+) > Rb(+) and does not correlate with the size of hydrated cations M(+), nor can it be predicted by the Hofmeister series. On the other hand, different anions have no effect on the precipitation trends. These observations are rationalized by a theoretical model combining the elements of the DLVO theory with molecular-level calculations. The key component of the model is the cation-specific binding of various metal cations to the carboxylate ligands.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baudilio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tejerina
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lagzi
authors.forename: Bartlomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.forename: Bartosz A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Grzybowski
mesh_terms: D002414:Cations, Monovalent / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D012492:Salts / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: C505222:11-mercaptoundecanoic acid; D002414:Cations, Monovalent; D005227:Fatty Acids; D012492:Salts; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D006046:Gold