The influence of pH on the alternate multi-layered adsorption of macrocations and Tmacroanions on colloidal spheres

The -potential and thickness of the alternate multiple adsorption layers of macrocations and macroanions on the surfaces of colloidal spheres in suspension were measured at pH values ranging from 2.8 to 10.8 via electrophoretic light-scattering measurements. Colloidal silica spheres (110 nm in diameter) were used. The macrocations used were poly (4-vinyl-N-n-butyl pyridinium bromide) (C4PVP, a strongly basic macroion) and poly (allylamine) (PAL, which is weakly basic). Sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (NaPSS, strongly acidic) and sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA, weakly acidic) were used as macroanions. The macrocations were added first in all of the experiments. The alternate adsorption of C4PVP and NaPSS takes place for a wide range of pH values, between 2.8 and 8.7. For C4PVP + NaPAA systems, alternate layers are formed only at neutral pH values and within three to six layers. Multiple adsorption phenomena are observed at acidic and neutral pH values for PAL + NaPSS and PAL + NaPAA systems, respectively. These results strongly support the theory that the synchronous delicate balancing of the electrostatic interactions among the macrocations, the macroanions, and the colloidal spheres is important for the alternate multiple adsorption.