Abstract
A light-scattering goniometer for evanescent-wave dynamic light scattering (EWDLS) measurements at a liquid-fluid interface is introduced, and used for measurements on two charge-stabilized polystyrene colloid systems adsorbed to alkane-water interfaces. The goniometer allows an independent variation of the penetration depth and the scattering vector components parallel and perpendicular to a liquid-fluid interface. The possible illumination geometries are compared. Ellipsometry at the liquid-fluid interface is implemented as a complementary tool. In EWDLS measurements, the absence of diffusive motion perpendicular to the interface is demonstrated, which confirms the adsorption of the particles. The two-step decay of the autocorrelation function is interpreted in terms of diffusion within a two-dimensional interface lattice of colloidal particles, stabilized by repulsive electrostatic interactions, and a desorption process. A significant slowing down of the in-plane diffusion of the colloids as compared to the bulk diffusion is observed.
1 More- Received 29 July 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.83.011601
© 2011 American Physical Society