Search results for "Free Energy of Interaction"

Interaction of Nanometric Clay Platelets

2008

International audience; The free energy of interaction between two nanometric clay platelets immersed in an electrolyte solution has been calculated using Monte Carlo simulations as well as direct integration of the configurational integral. Each platelet has been modeled as a collection of charged spheres carrying a unit chargethe face of a platelet contains negative charges, and the edge, positive charges. The calculations predict that a configuration of “overlapping coins” is the global free energy minimum at intermediate salt concentrations (10−100 mM). A second weaker minimum, corresponding to the well-known “house of cards” configuration, also appears in this salt interval. At low sal…