The degree of electrostatic repulsion between adjacent, similarly charged particles in a dispersion is the magnitude of the Zeta potential. For small molecules and particles, a high zeta potential will confer stability, that is the solution or dispersion will resist aggregation. Attractive forces may exceed this repulsion and the dispersion may break and flocculate if the potential is small. Thus, colloids with high zeta potential (negative or positive) are electrically stabilized while colloids with low zeta potentials tend to coagulate or flocculate.

The zeta potential is connected to the nanoparticles' net surface load. It is important to determine the colloidal stability of charged particles and to consider your system's output under different conditions.

The measurement of zeta potential has important applications in a wide range of industries including; ceramics, pharmaceuticals, medicine, mineral processing, electronics, water purification and industrial waste treatment, Electrodeposition, Paper, Detergency. The nature and structure of the electric double layer at the particle-liquid interface are directly related to Zeta potential measurements. testing of zeta potential Its measurement gives detailed perception into the causes of dispersion, aggregation or flocculation, which can be applied to improve the formulation of dispersions, emulsions and suspensions.