Effects of the counter ion valency on the colloidal interaction between two cylindrical particles

Abstract

In this study, the effects of counter ion valency of the electrolyte on the colloidal repulsion between two parallel cylindrical particles were investigated. Electrostatic interactions of the cylindrical particles were calculated with the variation of counter ion valency. To calculate the electrical repulsive energy working between these two cylindrical particles, Derjaguin approximation was applied. The electrostatic potential profiles were obtained numerically by solving nonlinear Poission-Boltzmann (P-B) equation and calculating middle point potential and repulsive energy working between interacting surfaces. The electrical potential and repulsive energy were influenced by counter ion valency, Debye length, and surface potential. The potential profile and middle point potential decayed with the counter ion valency due to the promoted shielding of electrical charge. On the while, the repulsive energy increased with the counter ion valency at a short separation distance. These behaviors of electrostatic interaction agreed with previous results on planar or spherical surfaces.