Depletion attraction in colloidal and bacterial systems
Hong Zhang, Dongyang Kong, Wenchao Zhang, Huaqing Liu
Abstract
Depletion attraction is a common entropy force observed in colloidal systems. As a common phenomenon in colloidal and bacterial systems, studying the mechanism and application of depletion attraction is of great value for controlling the state of colloidal solutions, regulating the morphology of colloidal particles, disease treatment, and water pollution treatment. Based on the current research status, we briefly introduce the calculation and measurement methods of depletion attractions. And we review the application of depletion attractions in colloidal systems, and summarize the different phenomena and aggregation mechanisms caused by depletion attraction in active colloidal particle-bacterial systems. Understanding the specific role of depletion aggregation in colloidal and bacterial systems provides more possibilities for further exploring depletion aggregation mechanisms and utilizing depletion aggregation phenomena in nature.