Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Induced Electric Dipoles

Induced Electric Dipoles

A permanent electric dipole orients itself along an external electric field. This rotation can be quantified by defining the potential energy because the external torque does work in rotating it. Then, the potential energy is minimum at the parallel configuration and maximum at the antiparallel configuration. While the former is a stable equilibrium, the latter is an unstable equilibrium.
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...

The Electrical Double Layer

The Electrical Double Layer

In the region where two bulk phases meet, an intricate electric charge distribution arises due to charge transfer, ion adsorption, molecular orientation, and charge distortion. This complex distribution is commonly referred to as the electrical double layer.When a solid electrode interfaces with ions in an electrolyte solution, the speed of electron transfer dictates the rates of oxidation and reduction. The electrode acquires a charge through the escape of atoms into the solution as cations or...

Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor

Dielectric Polarization in a Capacitor

The presence of a dielectric medium in a capacitor not only changes the voltage and capacitance but also affects the electric field. In general, dielectrics can be of two types: polar and nonpolar. In a polar dielectric, the positive and negative charges in the molecules are separated by a distance and hence have a permanent dipole moment. In contrast, no such charge separation exists in a nonpolar dielectric, however the nonpolar molecules get polarized in the presence of an external electric...

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions in Dielectrics

When an electric field passes from one homogeneous medium to another, crossing the boundary between the two mediums imparts a discontinuity in the electric field. This results in electrostatic boundary conditions that depend on the type of mediums the field propagates through.
Consider a case where both the mediums across a boundary are two different dielectric materials. Recall that the electric field and electric displacement are proportional and related through the material's permittivity.

Electric Dipoles and Dipole Moment

Electric Dipoles and Dipole Moment

Consider two charges of equal magnitude but opposite signs. If they cannot be separated by an external electric field, the system is called a permanent dipole. For example, the water molecule is a dipole, making it a good solvent.
Theoretically, studying electric dipoles leads to understanding why the resultant electric forces around us are weak. Since electric forces are strong, remnant net charges are rare. Hence, the interaction between dipoles helps us understand electrical interactions in...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Nonreciprocal field theory for decision-making in multi-agent control systems.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Breakdown of stochastic resonance in complex networks.

Physical review. E·2025

Same author

Self-assembly and time-dependent control of active and passive triblock Janus colloids.

The Journal of chemical physics·2025

Same author

Exponential Change of Relaxation Rate by Quenched Disorder.

Physical review letters·2025

Same author

Dynamical structures in phase-separating nonreciprocal polar active mixtures.

Physical review. E·2025

Same author

Nonreciprocal Alignment Induces Asymmetric Clustering in Active Mixtures.

Physical review letters·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Atomically Defined Templates for Epitaxial Growth of Complex Oxide Thin Films

Atomically Defined Templates for Epitaxial Growth of Complex Oxide Thin Films

Published on: December 4, 2014

Field-induced layer formation in dipolar nanofilms.

Jelena Jordanovic¹, Sabine H L Klapp

¹Stranski-Laboratorium für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Sekr. C7, Strasse des 17. Juni 115, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.

Physical Review Letters

|September 4, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

External fields control layering in confined ferrofluids. Strong perpendicular fields create new layers, while in-plane fields collapse existing ones, causing particle rearrangements. These findings align with recent ferrofluid experiments.

More Related Videos

Flow-assisted Dielectrophoresis: A Low Cost Method for the Fabrication of High Performance Solution-processable Nanowire Devices

Flow-assisted Dielectrophoresis: A Low Cost Method for the Fabrication of High Performance Solution-processable Nanowire Devices

Published on: December 7, 2017

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Published on: June 3, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Atomically Defined Templates for Epitaxial Growth of Complex Oxide Thin Films

Atomically Defined Templates for Epitaxial Growth of Complex Oxide Thin Films

Published on: December 4, 2014

Flow-assisted Dielectrophoresis: A Low Cost Method for the Fabrication of High Performance Solution-processable Nanowire Devices

Flow-assisted Dielectrophoresis: A Low Cost Method for the Fabrication of High Performance Solution-processable Nanowire Devices

Published on: December 7, 2017

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Fabrication of Large-area Free-standing Ultrathin Polymer Films

Published on: June 3, 2015

Area of Science:

Colloid Science
Soft Matter Physics
Computational Materials Science

Background:

Colloidal particles with dipolar interactions, like ferrofluids, exhibit complex behaviors when confined.
Understanding particle layering in thin films is crucial for various applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the influence of external homogeneous fields on the layering of confined dipolar colloidal particles.
To explore field-induced particle rearrangements and layer formation/collapse in ferrofluids.

Main Methods:

Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to model the behavior of confined ferrofluids.
Simulations analyzed particle arrangements under different external field strengths and orientations.

Main Results:

Homogeneous external fields effectively control particle layering in slablike geometries.
Perpendicular fields induce additional layers and particle alignment, while in-plane fields cause layer collapse.
Significant lateral particle rearrangements accompany field-induced structural changes.

Conclusions:

External fields offer a tunable mechanism for controlling the self-assembly and structure of confined ferrofluids.
Simulation results provide insights consistent with experimental observations of ferrofluids at surfaces.