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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

A Microfluidic-based Hydrodynamic Trap for Single Particles
Published on: January 21, 2011
Bilayers of Janus and homogeneous particle mixtures trapped at an air/water interface
Anna Kozina1, Salvador Ramos, Pedro Díaz-Leyva
1Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, P. O. Box 70-213, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico. akozina@unam.mx.
Abstract:
We study mixtures of amphiphilic Janus and homogeneous hydrophobic particles trapped at an air/water interface. In contrast to an expected monolayer formation, bilayers of colloidal particles are produced. Despite their strong interfacial adsorption, Janus particles form the upper layer. They are not placed on top of the other particles but rather shifted about one-third of the particle diameter. To understand the mechanism of bilayer formation, particle behaviour at the surface and in the bulk of the spreading solvent is considered. The vertical shift and the bilayer formation are assisted by the momentous formation of two interfaces during spreading.
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