Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO) theory

DLVO theory is an effective intermolecular pair potential that describes the aggregation of spherically symmetric charged colloids that have isotropic pair potentials and are interacting inside a fluid which also contains counter-ions. The pair potential is a special case of a Hard-Core Yukawa Potential. It is also a limiting case of the Generalized One-Component Macro-ion Potential (Belloni, 1986; Wu and Chen, 1988) in the limit where the colloid volume fraction approaches 0. This approximate potential works well when describing a solution that is concentrated enough to see some significant intermolecular repulsions, but not so concentrated that these repulsions aren't mediated by counter-ions and solvent. An example system would be Globular proteins at a pH where they have a surface charge dissolved in water with a buffer and salt.