Perturbation Theory of Large-Particle Diffusion in a Binary Solvent Mixture

Abstract

We study the diffusion of a large spherical particle immersed in a binary compressive liquid mixture using a perturbation theory. We focus on the breakdown of the Stokes–Einstein (SE) relation caused by the microscopic solvation structure of binary solvent particles around a solute particle. In order to consider the solvation structure, we solve multicomponent generalized Langevin equations by singular perturbation expansion. Then, we assume that solvent particles are much smaller than the solute particle. Solving the equations, we express the diffusion coefficient analytically using the radial distribution functions of a binary mixture. The expression shows the breakdown of the SE relation if the density distribution of a binary solvent is inhomogeneous around a solute particle. Actually, we show that the SE relation breaks down when a large hard sphere diffuses in a binary hard-sphere mixture. We observe the large deviation from the SE relation, which is a result specific to the binary solvent.