Smoluchowski equations for linker-mediated irreversible aggregation

Abstract: In order to study linker-mediated aggregation of colloidal particles with limited valence, we combine kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and an approximate theory based on the Smoluchowski equations. We found that aggregation depends strongly on two parameters, the ratio of the number of linkers and particles and the ratio of their diffusion coefficients. These control parameters are absent in single-species aggregation and provide a much greater variety and control of the resulting structures. We show that aggregation is non-trivial when two time scales of aggregation are present. Our aggregation dynamics theory is in qualitative and quantitative agreement with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Our results show how the optimal aggregation may be tuned through the ratio of the linkers and particles and that of the diffusion coefficients.