Interaction between random heterogeneously charged surfaces in an electrolyte solution

TL;DR

This study uses Monte Carlo simulations to analyze how heterogeneously charged surfaces interact in an electrolyte, revealing a transition from repulsive to attractive forces as the distance increases.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the force behavior between heterogeneously charged surfaces in electrolytes through detailed simulation analysis.

Findings

Short-range repulsion between surfaces

Long-range attraction observed

Force behavior depends on separation distance

Abstract

We study, using Monte Carlo simulations, the interaction between infinite heterogeneously charged surfaces inside an electrolyte solution. The surfaces are overall neutral with quenched charged domains. An average over the quenched disorder is performed to obtain the net force. We find that the interaction between the surfaces is repulsive at short distances and is attractive for larger separations.