Liquid Al surface density profile F.D. Di Tolla, PhD Thesis (1996)
Density profile for gas & liquid in pore Walton and Quirke, Chem. Phys. Lett. 129, 382 (1986).
Turbulent nature of liquid surface Molecular Dynamics Applet
Surface reconstruction Si (111) Au (100)
Different surfaces within a crystal Low index surfaces for a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal
Surface reconstruction fcc
Surface reconstruction Si (111)
Adsorbate superlattices
Surface tension from cohesive forces
Water-walking insects
Soap bubbles
Giant soap films APS meeting
Experiment to define surface tension
Pressure difference across curved surface
Temperature Dependence of Surface Tension
THIN LIQUID FILMS thin liquid films occur in everyday life – adhesives (superglue) – lubricants (on cornea of eye, engine piston) – spray coatings (paint, herbicides, fibers) – printing (ink on transparency or tape) – soap bubbles & films – foams (shaving cream, cappuccino) – water films (water spotting, hydroplaning) stability desirable/ essential stability undesirable
DEWETTING OF POLYMER FILMS PS films on Si dewet at elevated temperatures – form polygonal patterns of PS droplets [G. Reiter, PRL 68, 75 (1992)] same patterns observed for dewetting of PS on PMMA [e.g. S. Qu et al., Macromolecules 30, 3640 (1997)] PS/Si PS/PMMA
Contact angle lg sl sg sg – sl – lg cos = 0 liquid solid gas
Inspired by Nature – lotus leaf – symbol of purity – nature’s self-cleaning surface – mimic microstructure on surface [D. Quéré, Nature Mater. (2002)]
Cheerios effect coined by Jearl Walker, Flying Circus of Physics
Cheerios effect can also lead to formation of bubble rafts [Vella & Mahadevan, Am. J. Phys. (2005)]
Sphere at liquid-gas interface
Waterlily leaf beetle larva Hu & Bush, Nature 437, 733 (2005).
Capillary origami [Py et al., PRL (2007)]
Capillary force on AFM tip F cap = 2 R (cos 1 + cos 2 )
Capillary force on AFM tip [Sirghi et al., Langmuir (2001)]
Force Spectroscopy in AFM forces between AFM tip and a mica surface in air and water measurement in air shows large adhesive force due to capillary effect immersion in water almost completely eliminates capillary forces and adhesion