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Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 016101 (2012) [5 pages]

Beyond Millikan: The Dynamics of Charging Events on Individual Colloidal Particles

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Filip Beunis1,2,3, Filip Strubbe1,2, Kristiaan Neyts1,2, and Dmitri Petrov3,4
1Ghent University–Electronics and Information Systems, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
2Center for Nano and Biophotonics (NB-Photonics), Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
3ICFO–Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain
4ICREA–Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, 08010 Barcelona, Spain

Received 26 May 2011; revised 12 September 2011; published 6 January 2012

See accompanying Physics Focus

By measuring the stable charge on oil drops in air, Millikan demonstrated the discrete nature of electric charge. We extend his approach to the charge on solid-liquid interfaces, and focus on the dynamics of the discrete fluctuations. Our measurements are accurate and fast enough to observe changes of one elementary charge. Experiments over thousands of seconds yield information about the fast dynamics of electrochemical reactions, relevant for physicochemical and biological systems. As an example, we study (dis)charging processes on colloidal particles in a nonpolar liquid.

© 2012 American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.016101
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.016101
PACS:
82.45.-h
 
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