Direct measurement of entropic forces induced by rigid rods

Phys Rev Lett. 2003 Jan 31;90(4):048301. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.048301. Epub 2003 Jan 29.

Abstract

We present the first direct depletion potential measurements for a single colloidal sphere close to a wall in a suspension of rigid colloidal rods. Since all particle interactions are as good as hard-core-like, the depletion potentials are of entirely entropic origin. We developed a density functional theory approach that accurately accounts for this experimental situation. The depletion potentials calculated for different rod number densities are in very good quantitative agreement with the experimental results.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Colloids / chemistry*
  • Entropy
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Colloids