Eur. Phys. J. E (2003) 12: 75-80
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjed/e2003-01-019-y

Anisotropic diffusion of single molecules in thin liquid films

Institut für Physik 122501, Technische Universität Chemnitz, 09107 Chemnitz, Germany

Received: 1 January 2003
Published online: 5 November 2003

Abstract

Single molecule wide field imaging is applied to study the diffusion in ultrathin liquid films on solid surfaces. The results show a broad distribution of diffusion coefficients. This is tentatively ascribed to an anisotropy of the diffusion coefficient perpendicular to the surface and a slow exchange of molecules between regions of different diffusion coefficients. We have evidence, that these changes as well as the slow motion perpendicular to the surface are related to the molecular layering of the liquid close to the surface.