Nanoparticle Diffusion and Aggregation in 2D Smectic Membranes

ORAL

Abstract

We observe directly the diffusion and aggregation of nanoparticles embedded in thin, freely-suspended smectic films using reflected light microscopy in order to better understand the hydrodynamics of inclusions in finite, two-dimensional fluids. The Saffman-Delbr\"{u}ck (SD) model has been used previously to describe the diffusion of micron-sized objects in thin membranes in a variety of experimental systems. Nano-sized Buckyball aggregates embedded in smectic A films are observed to have much faster diffusion rates than predicted by SD theory. These experiments suggest that SD theory breaks down in the limit of nanometer-scale inclusions where molecular diffusion processes are dominate.

–

Authors

  • Kyle Meienberg

    University of Colorado

  • Greg Smith

    University of Colorado

  • Cheol Park

    Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, University of Colorado

  • Joseph MacLennan

    Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Physics, and the Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, Univ of Colorado - Boulder, University of Colorado, University of Colorado, Boulder

  • Matthew Glaser

    Univ of Colorado - Boulder, University of Colorado

  • Noel Clark

    Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA, Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder (CO) U.S.A., Department of Physics, and the Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Colorado