Instabilitäten von komplexen Benetzungsfilmen

• Applicant: Dr. Ralf Blossey
• Subject Area: Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2000 to 2003
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5233670

The research project "Instabilities in complex wetting films" concerns the dewetting dynamics of, e.g., thin organic films in which large (bio-)molecules of several nanometer size have been dissolved. The molecules move diffusively within the solvent and can undergo chemical bonding or aggregation. Depending on the solute concentration, the solvent evaporation rate and the wetting properties of the different phases (liquid, substrate, gas) various morphologies of the molecular arrangements are encountered on the substrate after a dewetting or drying process has taken place. A main cause for the formation of the different structures at surfaces is a competition of the dynamic instabilities of dewetting and evaporation processes. Based on previous experimental and theoretical results it is the intention of this research project to develop a model description for the dynamics of dewetting in these systems, allowing for a comparison with experimental results.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1052: Benetzung und Strukturbildung an Grenzflächen