Reversible cluster formation and dynamical arrest in colloidal dispersions*

Combining molecular simulations, experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations: 1) we conclusively demonstrate that the cluster morphology in short-ranged attractive colloidal systems (SRACS) at equilibrium conditions can be uniquely determined by the reduced second virial coefficient; our findings link the reversible colloidal aggregation with the extended law of corresponding states, 2) we show that gelation in adhesive hard-sphere dispersions is the result of the rigidity percolation with coordination number equal to 2.4; these results connect the concept of critical gel formation in SRACS to the universal concept of the rigidity percolation and, finally, 3) we provide a unified description and a general overview of the different aspects of the glass transition in largely asymmetric binary mixtures of hard-spheres; we highlight the fundamental relevance in considering explicitly the dynamics of both large and small particles to properly account for the glassy scenario.