title: Bubble colloidal AFM probes formed from ultrasonically generated bubbles.
abstract: Here we introduce a simple and effective experimental approach to measuring the interaction forces between two small bubbles (approximately 80-140 microm) in aqueous solution during controlled collisions on the scale of micrometers to nanometers. The colloidal probe technique using atomic force microscopy (AFM) was extended to measure interaction forces between a cantilever-attached bubble and surface-attached bubbles of various sizes. By using an ultrasonic source, we generated numerous small bubbles on a mildly hydrophobic surface of a glass slide. A single bubble picked up with a strongly hydrophobized V-shaped cantilever was used as the colloidal probe. Sample force measurements were used to evaluate the pure water bubble cleanliness and the general consistency of the measurements.
authors.affiliation: Particulate Fluids Processing Centre, School of Chemistry, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Ivan U
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Vakarelski
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Raymond R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Dagastine
authors.forename: Derek Y C
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Geoffrey W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grieser