Surface phenomena for lamellar phases in microemulsions

Citation
A. Ciach et al., Surface phenomena for lamellar phases in microemulsions, EUROPH LETT, 45(4), 1999, pp. 495-500
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
EUROPHYSICS LETTERS
ISSN journal
02955075 → ACNP
Volume
45
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
495 - 500
Database
ISI
SICI code
0295-5075(19990215)45:4<495:SPFLPI>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
Surface phenomena in fluids exhibiting structure on the nanoscale (microemu lsions, copolymers etc.) are studied. We argue that far such systems the La ndau-Ginzburg functional of suitably chosen order parameter should on the n anoscale have the same form, as the Landau-Ginzburg density-functional for simple fluids on the microscale. We define such order parameter for lamella r ordering by averaging the lamellar structure given by density profiles ov er a period of the density oscillations. The resulting Landau-Ginzburg func tional leads to surface-induced order or disorder and to the associated wet ting phenomena. We verify our hypothesis by explicit mean-field calculation s in a lattice model of microemulsions in the presence of a surface. Perfec t agreement is found. Our results also agree with recent experiments.