Influence of the surface blocking effect on distribution of adsorbed colloid particles

Fluctuations of colloid particle distributions on homogeneous surfaces were analysed theoretically and experimentally. The slot impinging-jet cell was applied for producing: a statistically homogeneous distribution of monodisperse polystyrene latex particles on mica sheets. The surface concentration of adsorbed particles was determined quantitatively using the direct microscope observation method coupled with an image analysing system. The experimental results indicating significant deviations from Poisson statistics were interpreted in terms of analytical equations derived by considering the surface blocking effects. The experimental data were in a good agreement with the theoretical predictions for a broad range of surfce concentrations of adsorbed colloid particles. It was found that the fluctuations of colloid particle distribution (characterized by the variance of the corresponding histograms) were considerably decreased as a result of the surface blocking effect influenced by the lateral electrostatic interactions.