The London-van der Waals interaction energy between objects of various geometries

Abstract

Mathematical expressions for the London-van der Waals (vdW) interaction energies between macroscopic objects of a few common geometrical shapes are derived. The derivation is subjected to the assumption of additivity. The expressions are approximated for some limiting cases. These expressions may find uses for example in complex fluids in calculations of vdW interactions between vesicular (single wall liposomes) and liposomal (onion structures) particles or in colloidal suspensions for the calculation of vdW interaction between colloids that are coated with a stabilizing layer such as adsorbed polymers, polymer brushes or surfactants.