Spatiotemporal mapping of nanotopography and thickness transitions of ultrathin foam films

Abstract

Freshly formed soap films, soap bubbles, or foam films display iridescent colors due to thin film interference that changes as squeeze flow drives drainage and a progressive decrease in film thickness. Ultrathin (thickness <100 nm) freestanding films of soft matter containing micelles, particles, polyelectrolyte–surfactant complexes, or other supramolecular structures or liquid crystalline phases display drainage via stratification. A fascinating array of thickness variations and transitions, including stepwise thinning and coexistence of thick–thin flat regions, arise in micellar foam films that undergo drainage via stratification. In this tutorial, we describe the IDIOM (interferometry digital imaging optical microscopy) protocols that combine the conventional interferometry principle with digital filtration and image analysis to obtain nanometer accuracy for thickness determination while having high spatial and temporal resolution. We provide fully executable image analysis codes and algorithms for the analysis of nanotopography and summarize some of the unique insights obtained for stratified micellar foam films.