Zeev, the zeta potential is only important thermodynamically below a certain particle size. Above that, brownian motion is not energetic enough to counteract the effect of gravity. I'm talking about long-term (thermodynamic) stability, not kinetic stability. For example, in fluorescent lamps, blends of phosphor particles with sizes ranging from about 2 to 10 microns are dispersed in an aqueous ionic solution, and the dispersion (called a colloid) is used to treat the glass tubes that become the lamp. These dispersions are prepared right before use, and will settle out, but for a period of time, behave as homogeneous colloids.
Anyway, just being a pedant, but that's what I was referring to. Also, you were right the first time when you said
Now, if you want a really generic patent, come up with a colloid that is not stabilized by chemical (electrochemical I should say) means (g).
All colloids are chemically stabilized, but not all are electrochemically stabilized. A well-known example of a chemically stabilized colloid which does not have an ionic double-layer is the CdSe colloids as prepared by the Bawendi/Murray/Alivisatos/Peng/etc, etc groups, which are stabilized by the trialkylphosphines used in the preparation. The core/shell particles, which just have a layer of a second semiconductor (like ZnS) are stabilized the same way. There are many other examples. Anyway you are right, it would be a great discovery to come up with a way to stabilize colloids of particles less than about 50 nm by a non-chemical means. Don't see how you could do it, but it would be valuable for a number of different reasons.
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