https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2006-10016-2
Regular Article
Colloids on free-standing smectic films
1
Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2
Department of Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
* e-mail: igor.musevic@ijs.si
Received:
8
May
2006
Accepted:
29
May
2006
Published online:
21
June
2006
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.
PACS: 61.30.Hn Surface phenomena: alignment, anchoring, anchoring transitions, surface-induced layering, surface-induced ordering, wetting, prewetting transitions, and wetting transitions – / 68.08.Bc Wetting – / 82.70.Dd Colloids –
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag, 2006
