Van der Waals interaction between a moving nano-cylinder and a liquid thin film. Issue 20 (10th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ledesma-Alonso, René; Raphaël, Elie; Salez, Thomas; Tordjeman, Philippe; Legendre, Dominique
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 13:Issue 20(2017)
• Page Start: 3822
• Page End: 3830
• Publication Date: 2017-05-10
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/c7sm00467b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : The interaction between a cylindrical nano-probe translating at constant speed and a thin liquid film is modelled. The parametric analysis unveils a dynamic threshold separation distance, below which the jump-to-contact instability occurs. The wake, left behind by the nano-probe, is observed and studied. Abstract : We study the static and dynamic interaction between a horizontal cylindrical nano-probe and a thin liquid film. The effects of the physical and geometrical parameters, with a special focus on the film thickness, the probe speed, and the distance between the probe and the free surface are analyzed. Deformation profiles have been computed numerically from a Reynolds lubrication equation, coupled to a modified Young–Laplace equation, which takes into account the probe/liquid and the liquid/substrate non-retarded van der Waals interactions. We have found that the film thickness and the probe speed have a significant effect on the threshold separation distance below which the jump-to-contact instability is triggered. These results encourage the use of horizontal cylindrical nano-probes to scan thin liquid films, in order to determine either the physical or geometrical properties of the latter, through the measurement of interaction forces.