The fluid-fluid interface in a model colloid-polymer mixture: Application of grand canonical Monte Carlo to asymmetric binary mixtures

TL;DR

This paper introduces a Monte Carlo simulation method for asymmetric binary mixtures, specifically applied to a colloid-polymer model, to analyze phase behavior and interfacial properties.

Contribution

The paper develops a Monte Carlo approach for grand canonical simulations of asymmetric mixtures and applies it to determine phase diagrams and interfacial tensions in a colloid-polymer system.

Findings

Phase diagram of fluid-fluid unmixing transition determined

Interfacial tension measured at various densities

Density profiles in two-phase region analyzed

Abstract

We present a Monte Carlo method to simulate asymmetric binary mixtures in the grand canonical ensemble. The method is used to study the colloid-polymer model of Asakura and Oosawa. We determine the phase diagram of the fluid-fluid unmixing transition and the interfacial tension, both at high polymer density and close to the critical point. We also present density profiles in the two-phase region. The results are compared to predictions of a recent density functional theory.