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arXiv · 2603.08326

Anomalously Large Screening Lengths in Highly Concentrated Electrolytes: A Matter of Experimental Conditions

Thomas Tilger·Esther Ohnesorge·Michalis Tsintsaris·Nithya Hellar·Kazue Kurihara·Hayden Robertson·Regine von Klitzing
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Abstract

Considerable debate exists about anomalous underscreening. Whilst surface force apparatus (SFA) measurements have confirmed anomalously large screening lengths ($\lambda$) in concentrated aqueous electrolytes, colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) measurements have not. We demonstrate that by tuning experimental conditions, similarly large $\lambda$ can be achieved in concentrated aqueous LaCl$_3$ electrolytes with CP-AFM. Structural forces were also observed at high LaCl$_3$ concentrations, which we suggest stem from the formation of diffuse ion clusters, and that the remaining counter-ions yield the large deduced $\lambda$.

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Thomas Tilger, Esther Ohnesorge, Michalis Tsintsaris, Nithya Hellar, Kazue Kurihara, Hayden Robertson, Regine von Klitzing. 2026-03-09. Anomalously Large Screening Lengths in Highly Concentrated Electrolytes: A Matter of Experimental Conditions. https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.08326

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