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Van der Waals Interactions

Van der Waals Interactions

Atoms and molecules interact with each other through intermolecular forces. These electrostatic forces arise from attractive or repulsive interactions between particles with permanent, partial, or temporary charges. The intermolecular forces between neutral atoms and molecules are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, and dispersion forces, collectively known as van der Waals forces.

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Optical Trap Loading of Dielectric Microparticles In Air

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Extremely Long-Range Light-Driven Repulsion of Porous Microparticles.

David Feldmann¹, Pooja Arya¹, Taras Y Molotilin²

¹Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids

|February 20, 2020

Summary

Researchers demonstrated remote control of particle interactions using light. Porous particles exhibit long-range repulsion via light-induced diffusio-osmotic flow, enabling tunable 2D assembly control.

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Area of Science:

Colloid and Surface Science
Soft Matter Physics
Nanotechnology

Background:

Colloidal dispersion stability relies on short-range repulsive forces like electrostatic and steric interactions.
Controlling particle interactions typically requires physical manipulation or environmental changes.
Existing methods for controlling inter-particle forces have limited range and flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the remote control of repulsive interactions between sedimented microsized particles using light.
To explore the effect of photosensitive ionic surfactants on particle interactions under illumination.
To determine if light can induce long-range repulsive forces in particle systems.

Main Methods:

Utilizing aqueous electrolyte solutions with small additives of a photosensitive ionic surfactant.
Sedimenting microsized particles onto a solid surface and illuminating with specific wavelengths.
Comparing the interaction behavior of conventional impermeable particles versus porous particles under light.
Analyzing the generation of diffusio-osmotic flow near porous particles.

Main Results:

Conventional impermeable particles showed no significant change in interaction upon illumination.
Porous particles exhibited a long-range repulsion, orders of magnitude greater than equilibrium surface forces.
This repulsion was attributed to light-induced diffusio-osmotic flow, where porous particles acted as micropumps.
Demonstrated reversible switching between densely packed aggregates and periodic lattices using two different wavelengths.

Conclusions:

Light can remotely control inter-particle repulsive forces in systems with porous particles and photosensitive surfactants.
Diffusio-osmotic flow generated by porous particles is the mechanism for light-induced long-range repulsion.
This phenomenon offers a novel method for remote, tunable control of two-dimensional particle assemblies on surfaces.