Ruksana Sirach

Apparently you are researching an amphoteric hydrogel. Depending on the pH, the gels fold into balls (micelles), which participate in electrophoresis. Gels fold into balls (micelles) using a water-mediated hydrophobic interaction process. As a result of this movement, the frequency and phase of the radiation scattered by the micelles changes in accordance with the Doppler effect. The distribution of electrophoretic mobility is determined from the frequency shift distribution. Then, taking into account the viscosity and dielectric constant of the base fluid, the electrophoretic mobility is used to calculate the zeta potential.

At 0.3 nm, the hydrogen bond in water fluctuates, creating two kinds of micelles with opposite zeta potentials, which together create a core micelle with approximately zero zeta potential.

For the theory of this process using the example of surfactant micelles, see

Preprint Nuclear quantum effect in aqueous micellar surfactant solutions

Article Relationship between Classical and Quantum Mechanics in Mice...

Yuri Mirgorod

Thank you, Professor, for providing valuable insights into the appearance of these peaks. My objective is to identify the point of zero charge (PZC) for a carboxymethyl cellulose-based polymer containing cyclodextrin. Would it be accurate to report the average value of these three peaks?

Ruksana Sirach

The appearance of a large peak is a consequence of the existence of two small peaks. The PZC (large peak) is in a state of superposition of the first and second states (two small peaks). You must take the average of the two small peaks and compare with the PZC of the large peak. They must be equal.

Yuri Mirgorod

Thank you and I really appreciate your response. I will work on it. Means a lot. Thanks!

"At 0.3 nm, the hydrogen bond in water fluctuates, creating two kinds of micelles with opposite zeta potentials, which together create a core micelle with approximately zero zeta potential."

Even if this is correct, the scattering intensity would be negligible compared to that of the dispersed polymer and should peaks would be reported by many researchers.

I would suspect other issues associated with the measurement. For example, electrolysis of the dispersion medium leading to bubble formation.

What instrument are you using?

What pH and salt concentrations do you measure at?

What kind of cuvette and electrodes?

John Francis Miller

Here is the information regarding the instrument.

* Instrument: Horiba SZ-100 nanopartica

* Cuvette/electrode: Disposable zeta potential cell with carbon coated electrode

* pH=9.3

* Dispersion medium: Aqueous

John Francis Miller

You do not understand the quantum-thermal process of formation of hydrogel micelles. I'll describe it briefly. At sizes of 0.3 nm, the electron density -O-H...O-H of the hydrogen bond of water fluctuates together with quantum fluctuations of the gel, creating two types of fluctuations of hydrogel micelles with zeta potentials of different signs. We do not know the size of micelles and the time of fluctuations and therefore talk about them “the scattering intensity would be negligible compared to that of the dispersed polymer and should peaks would be reported by many researchers.” we can not. Systems are individual. As for bubbles, their appearance will never give such a symmetrical picture.