Droplet shape of an anisotropic liquid

Croll, A. B., Massa, M. V., Matsen, M. W. and Dalnoki-Veress, K. (2006) Droplet shape of an anisotropic liquid. Physical Review Letters, 97 (20). p. 204502. ISSN 0031-9007

Abstract/Summary

We investigate how a droplet of a complex liquid is modified by its internal nanoscale structure. As the liquid passes from an isotropic disordered state to an anisotropic layered morphology, the droplet shape switches from a smooth spherical cap to a terraced hyperbolic profile, which can be modeled as a stack of thin concentric circular disks with a repulsion between adjacent disk edges. Our ability to resolve the detailed shape of these defect-free droplets offers a unique opportunity to explore the underlying physics.