Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.116, No.6, 2650-2657, 2002
Thermodynamics and phase separation of a de-ionized colloidal system in the symmetric Poisson-Boltzmann and mean spherical approximation theories
A model system of charged hard spheres and point counterions is used to analyze a de-ionized colloidal dispersion. Thermodynamic properties are calculated using a symmetric Poisson-Boltzmann equation, a linear form, and the Mean Spherical Approximation theory. The theories are found to predict a gas-liquid type transition and the spinodals computed. The results are compared among themselves and with recent Monte Carlo simulations for the model.