# Difference between revisions of "Like-charged particles at liquid interfaces"

## Overview

Authors: Part 1 - Mischa Megens, Joanna Aizenberg. Part 2 - M. G.Nikolaides, A. R. Bausch, M. F.Hsu, A.D.Dinsmore, M. P. Brenner, C.Gay, D. A.Weitz

Source: Narture, Vol. 424, August 2003

Supporting Reference: ^1 M. G.Nikolaides, A. R. Bausch, M. F.Hsu, A.D.Dinsmore, M. P. Brenner, C.Gay, D. A.Weitz, Electric-field-induced capillary attraction between like-charged particles at liquid interfaces, Nature, Vol 420, 2002

Soft Matter key words: capillary attraction, surface tension, electrostatic force

## Abstract

This publication is actually a brief communication between two scientific parties. The topic is the attraction between micro-meter sized particles absorbed at aqueous interfaces. On the first part, M. Megens and J. Aizenberg argue that the attractive force arising between the two particles cannot be attributed to capillary attraction alone. On the second part M.G. Nikolaides et al. refute this argument by presenting novel experimental data.

## Soft Matter Snippet

Fig.1 : M. G.Nikolaides, A. R. Bausch, M. F.Hsu, A.D.Dinsmore, M. P. Brenner, C.Gay, D. A.Weitz

This article offers insight into the forces acting between charged particles, floating on a water surface. It also proposes some stipulations on how attraction might arise between these particles. Essentially, the authors are investigating the micrometer-equivalent of the Cheerios effect. And although the attraction between millimeter-sized particles can be attributed to buoyancy, another mechanism has to account for the attraction between micrometer-sized particles. Nikolaides et al.^[1] match experimental data with a model in which capillary force accounts for the attraction. According to them, the origin of capillary forces is electrostatic: dipolar electric fields induce surface charges that distort the liquid interface between the particles. The resulting dipolar interaction causes repulsion, while the interfacial distortion causes capillary attraction. The capillary attraction is:

$F = \frac{P^2}{16 \pi \epsilon_0 \alpha_w^4} \frac{\epsilon_{oil}}{\epsilon_{water}}$

While the potential is:

$U = \frac{F^2}{2 \pi \gamma} log\frac{r}{r_0} + \frac{P^2}{4 \pi \epsilon_0r^3} \frac{2 \epsilon_{oil}}{\epsilon^2_{water}}$

Where the first term is the capillary attraction and the second is the dipolar repulsion.