Study on Surface Energy of Ultra-thin Film

Abstract

The dependences of surface energy on ultra-thin film thickness are investigated experimentally and theoretically. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film and perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant on solid substrates are used as ultra-thin film samples. Surface energies as a function of film thickness are experimentally obtained from contact angle measurements. The theoretical equation of the dispersive component of the surface energy of ultra-thin film is derived from the corrected van der Waals pressure equation for a multilayered system proposed by the authors. The theoretical values are found to agree with the experimental values. The theoretical equation presented in this study is considered to be useful in predicting the surface energy of an ultra-thin film on a solid substrate.

Keywords

• surface energy
• ultra-thin film
• dispersive component
• corrected van der waals pressure equation