Faculty of Science (FNWI) - Institute of Physics (IoP) - Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI)
Abstract
Using x-ray diffraction from microfluidic channel arrays, we have determined concentration profiles of charge-stabilized silica colloids (radius 60±2 nm) confined between two like-charged dielectric walls at a few hundred nanometer distance. In solutions of very low ionic strength, strongly repulsive Coulomb interactions drive the colloids toward the central region between the walls. The addition of a small quantity of salt ions (0.2 mM) causes a dense colloidal monolayer to be trapped near the walls.