Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Preparation of Janus Particles and Alternating Current Electrokinetic Measurements with a Rapidly Fabricated Indium Tin Oxide Electrode Array
Published on: June 23, 2017
Interaction modes between asymmetrically and oppositely charged rods
Hanne S Antila1, Paul R Van Tassel2, Maria Sammalkorpi1
1Department of Chemistry, Aalto University, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland.
Abstract:
The interaction of oppositely and asymmetrically charged rods in salt-a simple model of (bio)macromolecular assembly-is observed via simulation to exhibit two free energy minima, separated by a repulsive barrier. In contrast to similar minima in the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory, the governing mechanism includes electrostatic attraction at large separation, osmotic repulsion at close range, and depletion attraction near contact. A model accounting for ion condensation and excluded volume is shown to be superior to a mean-field treatment in predicting the effect of charge asymmetry on the free-energy profile.
Related Concept Videos
The Electrical Double Layer
Charging Conductors By Induction
Generally, conductors like metals do not allow any excess charge to be present on them. Any excess charge added to metals easily flows away, for example, when a metal is placed on the Earth. This process is called earthing.
However, conductors can be charged by a process called induction. For example, consider charging a...
Electric Field of Two Equal and Opposite Charges
A separation of the positive and negative charges can lead to a weak, remnant effect of the positive and negative charges. The expectation is that the more the distance between the positive and...
Magnetic Fields
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...
Electrochemical Systems
Potential Due to a Polarized Object

