Phase Transitions in Soft Matter Induced by Selective Solvation

Akira Onuki (Kyoto University)

We review our recent studies on selective solvation effects in phase separation in polar binary mixtures with a small amount of solutes. Such hydrophilic or hydrophobic particles are preferentially attracted to one of the solvent components. (i) We discuss the role of antagonistic salt composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic ions, which undergo microphase separation at water-oil interfaces leading to mesophases. (ii) We then discuss phase separation induced by a strongly selective solvent above a critical solute density which occurs far from the solvent coexistence curve leading to mesoscopic heterogeneities. (iii) We also examine wetting transition on charged surfaces including those of colloids., where the degree of ionization is a fluctuating quantity depending on the local composition. This effect leads to aggregation of colloids and polyelectrolytes.

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