Simulating formation of voids in charged colloids by brownian dynamics
Using Brownian dynamics simulations and Sogami's effective pair potential with a long-range attractive term for the colloidal particles, we report that the mechanism of making voids in charged colloids is the long-range attractive interaction between particles. The present results are in good agreement with the experimental observations of stable voids in equilibrium with ordered structures, which may not be explained by repulsive potentials without a long-range attractive interaction such as the Derjaguin-Landau-Vervey-Overbeck potential. Our results are also in a good agreement with Monte Carlo simulation results. The voids have been reported with ordered structure in charged colloids by Brownian dynamics simulations.