Eur. Phys. J. B 5, 87-97 (1998)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050422

AC field induced two-dimensional aggregation of multilamellar vesicles

Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal, avenue A. Schweitzer, 33600 Pessac, France

Corresponding author: ^a argoul@crpp.u-bordeaux.fr

Received: 4 December 1997
Revised: 24 March 1998
Accepted: 4 May 1998
Published online: 15 September 1998

Abstract

The aggregation of 2D colloidal crystals can be performed by applying an AC field to a colloidal dispersion. This technique is used in this work for assembling multilamellar vesicles in suspension. The dynamics of the aggregation is followed by real-time recording of the pictures of the microsphere assembly through a phase contrast microscope. The influence of both the frequency and the amplitude of the alternating field on the dynamical evolution of the concentration of layered particles is discussed with respect to their size. A phenomenological model of double layer induced trapping of the particles is proposed and an electroconvective instability of the fluid surrounding the particles is suggested from the observation of the local dynamics of the particles, in accordance with a very recent argument of Yeh et al. [CITE].