Colloids are heterogeneous physical systems in which one phase (dispersed phase) is finely distributed within another continuous phase, with characteristic particle or domain sizes typically in the range of ~1–1000 nm. They exhibit properties dominated by interfacial phenomena, Brownian motion, and long-range interactions rather than gravitational settling. Colloidal stability is governed by a balance of van der Waals, electrostatic, steric, and depletion forces, often described by DLVO and extended theories. These systems encompass sols, gels, emulsions, foams, and aerosols, and serve as model platforms for studying phase behavior, self-assembly, rheology, and non-equilibrium dynamics in soft condensed matter physics.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have a unique resource in the form of the Center for Biomolecular Condensates at the McKelvey School of Engineering, which draws scientists from around the world to study ...
Biotechnology
Jan 26, 2026
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Over the past decade, colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as promising materials for next-generation displays due to their tunable emission, high brightness, and compatibility with low-cost solution processing. However, ...
Nanophysics
Dec 23, 2025
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73
Modern devices, from fitness trackers and smart garments to Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, require compact and sustainable power sources. In new research published in Scientific Reports, scientists present an energy harvester ...
Nanophysics
Nov 24, 2025
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30
It looks like a magic trick: Cells at the bottom of a liquid medium begin levitating, then hovering at a particular height. With no physical contact, an invisible force directs certain cells to float up or down in unison, ...
Cell & Microbiology
Oct 24, 2025
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93
The amount of any given protein in a cell has to be controlled to keep its levels within a range required for healthy functions. This is especially important for proteins that are known to group together in liquid droplets ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 25, 2025
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Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed hollow microspheres made of mucus and polydopamine using a simple and scalable production method. These tiny spheres are intended to serve as packaging ...
Cell & Microbiology
Sep 7, 2025
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84
Dr. Seon Joon Kim and his team at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)'s Convergence Research Center for SEIF have developed a high-conductivity amphiphilic MXene material that can be dispersed in water, polar ...
Nanomaterials
Aug 18, 2025
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30
The trouble with many drugs is that they go where they shouldn't, producing unwanted side effects. Psychiatric drugs might cause dissociation, painkillers can induce nausea and chemotherapy often damages healthy cells. Now ...
Bio & Medicine
Aug 18, 2025
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174
An evaporating colloidal particle–laden droplet leaves behind a ring-like residue after drying. We routinely observe this ubiquitous phenomenon for dried coffee drops; thus, it is known as the "coffee-ring effect." As a droplet ...
Imagine a liquid that flows freely one moment, then stiffens into a near-solid the next, and then can switch back with a simple change in temperature. Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular ...
Soft Matter
Jul 2, 2025
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