Forces Measured between Hydrophobic Surfaces due to a Submicroscopic Bridging Bubble

Archie Carambassis; Louisa C. Jonker; Phil Attard; Mark W. Rutland

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.5357

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Forces Measured between Hydrophobic Surfaces due to a Submicroscopic Bridging Bubble

Archie Carambassis, Louisa C. Jonker, Phil Attard, and Mark W. Rutland

Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 5357 – Published 15 June 1998

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy on hydrophobic microspheres in water reveals a strong attraction with a range of 20–200 nm, following an initial steep repulsion at long range. The data are consistent with a single submicroscopic bubble between the surfaces, with the attraction due to its attachment and lateral spread, and the repulsion dependent on film drainage and the electric double layer. The results provide direct experimental evidence of the existence of long-lived submicron bubbles, and of their bridging as the cause of the measured long-range attractions between macroscopic hydrophobic surfaces.

Received 6 February 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.5357

Authors & Affiliations

Archie Carambassis, Louisa C. Jonker, Phil Attard^*, and Mark W. Rutland^†

School of Chemistry F11, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia

^*Present address: Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, The Levels, SA 5095, Australia.
^†Present address: Surface Force Group Chemistry Department, Royal Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 5607, 114 86, Stockholm, Sweden.

Small, Attractive Bubbles

Phys. Rev. Focus 1, 22 (1998)

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Vol. 80, Iss. 24 — 15 June 1998

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