Solvophobic and Solvophilic Effects on\nthe Potential of Mean Force between\nTwo Nanoparticles in Binary Mixtures

Abstract

We apply the integral equation theory to study the solvent-induced potential of mean force between two passivated nanoparticles in binary\nmixtures. We consider a particular model mixture involving two solvent components, where the nanoparticle is weakly solvophilic with respect\nto one component and solvophobic with respect to the other one. We show that the increase in the mole fraction of the second component\nresults in a more attractive interaction potential between two nanoparticles due to the enhancement of the solvophobic attraction between\nthem, and that these changes in the interaction potential are comparable to the thermal energy. Our results indicate the possibility of using\ncosolvents in order to tune the degree of solvation and the interaction strength between nanoparticles in solution.