Rotational Diffusivity of Fractal Clusters

The rotational diffusion behavior of fractal clusters generated through an off-lattice cluster−cluster aggregation algorithm in both diffusion-limited cluster aggregation and reaction-limited cluster aggregation conditions is investigated. The extended Kirkwood−Riseman theory (Garcia de la Torre et al., Macromolecules, <BO>1987</BO>) is used to estimate the cluster rotational diffusion tensor. The three eigenvalues of this tensor, which correspond to the three main rotational diffusivity values of the cluster, have been computed for each generated cluster. Once the eigenvalues have been sorted in ascending order, each of them has been averaged over several thousands of clusters. It is found that one of the three main average rotational diffusivities is substantially larger than the other two, indicating significant anisotropy of fractal clusters. Moreover, a rotational hydrodynamic radius R<INF>h,r</INF> has been determined on the basis of the mean value of the three average rotational diffusivities, which is about 25% larger than the mean translational hydrodynamic radius R<INF>h</INF> calculated through the same Kirkwood−Riseman theory. Finally, the obtained R<INF>h,r</INF> values have been applied to interpret dynamic light scattering data from aggregating colloidal systems and to investigate the reliability of the assumption, R<INF>h</INF> = R<INF>h,r</INF>, typically made in the literature.