title: On the origin of the halo stabilization.
abstract: Monte Carlo simulations show that charge-regulation alone can cause highly charged zirconium nanoparticles to adsorb to a similarly charged or neutral silica particle and thereby stabilizing the latter. This mechanism, referred to as halo stabilization, is quite general and applicable in a range of systems provided that pH, van der Waals forces, and dissociation constants of the charge-regulating particles are properly chosen. In our modeling we see an overall attraction at low volume fractions of nanoparticles, while at higher a repulsive barrier is created, stabilizing the microparticles and protecting them from aggregation. The charge-regulation mechanism also turns the silica surface from positively charged, without nanoparticles, to negatively charged in the presence of nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Theoretical Chemistry, Chemical Center, POB 124, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden. martin.trulsson@teokem.lu.se
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trulsson
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jönsson
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Labbez