Soft colloidal probes for AFM force measurements between water droplets in oil

Type
Article
Authors
Vakarelski, Ivan Uriev cc
Li, Erqiang cc
Thoroddsen, Sigurdur T cc
KAUST Department
Clean Combustion Research Center
Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) Division
Mechanical Engineering Program
High-Speed Fluids Imaging Laboratory
Date
2014-11

Metadata
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Abstract
Here we introduce an extension of the atomic force microscopy (AFM) colloidal probe technique, as a simple and reliable experimental approach to measure the interaction forces between small water droplets (~80-160. μm) dispersed in oil. Small water droplets are formed by capillary breakup of a microscale water jet in air, which is forced out of a fine capillary nozzle, and deposited on a superhydrophobic substrate immersed in tetradecane oil medium. In these conditions the water droplets are very loosely attached to the superhydrophobic substrate and are easily picked up with a hydrophobic AFM cantilever to form a soft colloidal probe. Sample force measurements are conducted to demonstrate the capability of the technique.
Sponsors
Research reported in this publication was supported by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Most of the experiments were conducted in KAUST Microfluidics Thrust Area Labs.
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal
Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects
ISSN
09277757
DOI
10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.09.028
Handle URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/575721
Collections
Articles; Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) Division; Mechanical Engineering Program; Mechanical Engineering Program; Clean Combustion Research Center