Detaching Microparticles from a Liquid Surface.

The work required to detach microparticles from fluid interfaces depends on the shape of the liquid meniscus. However, measuring the capillary force on a single microparticle and simultaneously imaging the shape of the liquid meniscus has not yet been accomplished. To correlate force and shape, we combined a laser scanning confocal microscope with a colloidal probe setup. While moving a hydrophobic microsphere (radius 5-10  μm) in and out of a 2-5  μm thick glycerol film, we simultaneously measured the force and imaged the shape of the liquid meniscus. In this way we verified the fundamental equations [D. F. James, J. Fluid Mech. 63, 657 (1974)JFLSA70022-112010.1017/S0022112074002126; A. D.…