Calculation of double layer interaction between colloidal aggregates

This paper examines the interaction between the electric double layers of aggregates. Commonly, rather simplified models are used like the approximation of primary particle interaction (APPI), which just considers the interaction of the closest pair of primary particles having a double layer as if they were isolated. However, for nanoparticles the double layer thickness may be in the same order of magnitude as the particle size or even larger, what leads to a considerable double layer overlap inside the aggregates and between two interacting aggregates. Consequently, such approximations will fail. The paper presents a numerical scheme for the double layer interaction of arbitrarily shaped aggregates, which can e.g. help to establish criteria for the applicability of approximate models. The calculation employs a singularity method, which is based on the linearised Poisson–Boltzmann equation. Additionally, a linear model for charge regulation is implemented. The impact of charge regulation and double layer thickness were studied for fractal DLCA aggregates and hexagonal closed-packed aggregates.