Lateral capillary forces and two-dimensional arrays of colloid particles and protein molecules

This paper presents a review of our recent studies on the lateral capillary forces and on their role in the formation of two-dimensional ordered arrays of colloidal particles or protein molecules. To reveal the mechanism of protein ordering in liquid films we carried out model experiments with micrometer sized latex particles. The films were formed on solid or liquid substrates. By variation of the electrolyte concentration, the particle charge and volume fraction we proved that neither the double layer repulsion, nor the van der Waals attraction between the particles, was responsible for the formation of the two-dimensional arrays. Direct microscope observations revealed that the process of ordering was triggered by attractive lateral capillary forces due to the overlap of the menisci formed around the particles. Two types of lateral capillary forces, flotation and immersion, could be distinguished and theory of these interactions was developed. The lateral capillary forces between a floating particle and a wall were also studied; they could be employed for precise determination of the shear surface viscosity.