MECHANISM OF FORMATION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL CRYSTALS FROM LATEX-PARTICLES ON SUBSTRATES

The dynamics of two-dimensional ordering of micrometer-size polystyrene latex spheres on a horizontal glass substrate has been directly observed by means of optical microscopy. It turns out that the ordering starts when the thickness of the water layer containing particles becomes approximately equal to the particle diameter. By variation of the electrolyte concentration, the charge of the particles, and their volume fraction, it is proven that neither the electrostatic repulsion nor the van der Waals attraction between the particles is responsible for the formation of two-dimensional crystals. The direct observations revealed the main factors governing the ordering-the attractive capillary forces (due to the menisci formed around the particles) and the convective transport of particles toward the ordered region. The control of the water evaporation rate turns out to allow obtaining either well-ordered monolayers or well-ordered domains consisting of multilayers (bilayers, trilayers, etc.).