Charge renormalization and phase separation in colloidal\nsuspensions

Abstract

\n \nWe explore the effects of counterion condensation on \nfluid-fluid phase separation in\ncharged colloidal suspensions. \nIt is found that formation of double layers around the\ncolloidal particles stabilizes \nsuspensions against phase separation. Addition of \nsalt, however, produces an instability\nwhich, in principle, can lead to a fluid-fluid separation. The instability, \nhowever, is so weak that it should be impossible to observe\na fully equilibrated coexistence experimentally.\n\n