Ionic-like Behavior of Oppositely Charged Nanoparticles

Abstract

Mixtures of oppositely charged nanoparticles of various sizes and charge ratios precipitate only at the point of electroneutrality. This phenomenon-specific to the nanoscale and reminiscent of threshold precipitation of ions-is a consequence of the formation of core-and-shell nanoparticle aggregates, in which the shells are composed of like-charged particles and are stabilized by efficient electrostatic screening.