Colloids on free-standing smectic films.
We study the structure of a free-standing smectic-A film around a micron-size polystyrene colloid adsorbed onto the film. We find that a colloid or a cluster of colloids is surrounded by an optically distinct and radially decorated meniscus ending with a sharp edge. The observed strong and finite-range attraction between the adsorbed colloids is driven by the fusion of menisci. We interpret the structure of the smectic meniscus in terms of a model dominated by the surface free energy and we argue that the characteristic appearance of the meniscus is due to layer undulations.
Conradi
M
M
Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Ziherl
P
P
Sarlah
A
A
Musevic
I
I
D000327:Adsorption; D035843:Biomedical Research; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013816:Thermodynamics
D003102:Colloids; D011137:Polystyrenes