General principles in formation of monolayer colloidal crystals using the moving meniscus method

Factors affecting the formation of two-dimensional periodic structure from the particles of hydrosol disperse phase on the surface of dielectric substrate using the moving meniscus method are analyzed. The analytical model and its numerical realization for calculating the deposition of nanoparticle from bulk hydrosol onto a planar substrate by the Brownian dynamics are represented. Van der Waals, elastic, gravitational, dissipative, and stochastic forces, as well as the action of capillary forces and convective transfer, are taken into account in the model. The influence of various parameters of the disperse system on the degree of imperfection of forming crystalline structure is studied. The dominant factors of structurization during the use of this technique are revealed, and a key role of convective transfer is demonstrated.