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In an ionic solution, particles with a net charge will have a layer of ions (of opposite charge) strongly bound to their surface; this is referred to as the Stern layer A second diffuse outer layer is comprised of loosely associated ions. These two layers are collectively called the electrical double layer. As the particle moves a distinction is created between ions in the diffuse layer that move with the particle and ions that remain with the bulk dispersant. The electrostatic potential at this "slipping plane" boundary is called the zeta potential and is related to the surface charge of the particle.

In the present work we study the relationship between the zeta potential of solutions containing micro and Nano particles of (pure ceria, pure silica, mixed silica) and the formations of colloids, the tested materials have been chosen in the purpose to cover a wide variety of zeta potential values which provides us the opportunity to focus only on the effect of the particles surface charges, the technique of particles size analysing indicates  if there is any changing in the particles size distribution which provides evidence of  the formation of colloids and aggregates, the findings of this study suggest that  particles with zeta potentials greater than +30 mV or less than−30 mV are considered strongly cationic and anionic, respectively , in other terms particles with high zeta values are considered stable and tends not to form colloids and aggregates .