Gravity effect on the electric field deposition of two-dimensional particle arrays

We developed a method for the deposition of colloidal particle layers in a horizontal electrophoretic cell. The particles accumulate on the surface of the (upper) working electrode. The particle nuclei increase in size to form islands, which are then bridged and converted into a dense array: monolayer or bilayer. Uniform coating of electroconductive glass by micrometer and submicrometer size latex particles of negative charge has been obtained. The transportation stage of the process is described theoretically. The use of colloidal particles made visible with an optical microscope also provides a new look inside electrode processes.