STEADY-STATE UNIDIRECTIONAL CONVECTIVE ASSEMBLING OF FINE PARTICLES INTO 2-DIMENSIONAL ARRAYS

We formed millimeter-sized two-dimensional particle arrays on inclined microslides using water suspensions of the particles. We found that t he array porosity depended on the particle diameter, the particle volu me fraction, and the rate of array growth. Deriving an equation for th e steady-state array growth process, we found that these parameters, t ogether with the rate of water evaporation, govern the overall array g rowth process. Our results illustrate a promising technology for produ cing fine particle coatings on solid surfaces.