Sticky-sphere clusters

TL;DR

This paper reviews the theory of sticky-sphere clusters, explaining how it models nano- and microscale particles with short-range interactions, and discusses its experimental relevance and potential for new insights.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive survey of the sticky limit theory, connecting it with experimental observations and highlighting future research directions.

Findings

The sticky limit effectively models particle interactions at nanoscale.

The theory aligns well with experimental colloidal cluster data.

Potential for new insights in particle assembly and material design.

Abstract

Nano- and microscale particles, such as colloids, commonly interact over ranges much shorter than their diameters, so it is natural to treat them as "sticky," interacting only when they touch exactly. The lowest-energy states, free energies, and dynamics of a collection of $n$ particles can be calculated in the sticky limit of a deep, narrow interaction potential. This article surveys the theory of the sticky limit, explains the correspondence between theory and experiments on colloidal clusters, and outlines areas where the sticky limit may bring new insight.