Aggregation and Charge Behavior of Metallic and Nonmetallic Nanoparticles in the Presence of Competing Similarly-Charged Inorganic Ions

The influence of competing, similarly charged, inorganic ions on the size and charge behavior of suspended titanium-dioxide (nTiO(2)), silver (nAg) and fullerene (nC(60)) nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated. Under pH and ionic conditions similar to natural water bodies, Ca(2+) induced aggregation of nTiO(2) and nAg NPs more strongly than K(+) and Na(+). Although K(+) and Na(+) had a similar effect on aggregation, K(+) provided better screening of the particle surface charge presumably because of its small hydrated radius. These effects were decidedly more prominent for TiO(2) than Ag. Anions (co-ions), SO(4)(2-) and Cl(-), affected the surface charge behavior of nTiO(2) but not of nAg NPs. The zeta potential (ZP) of nTiO(2) NPs was more negative at higher SO(4)(2-)/Cl(-) ratios than lower. When Mg(2+) was the counterion, charge inversion and rapid aggregation of nC(60) NPs occurred under alkaline conditions, with a more pronounced effect for Cl(-) than SO(4)(2-). Response dissimilarities suggest fundamental differences in the interfacial-interaction characteristics of these NPs in the aquatic environment with corresponding differences in transport of these particles. Our study also shows the important role played by the iso-electric point pH (pH(iep)) of the NPs in determining their aggregation kinetics in the environment.