Quantitative Light Microscopy of Dense Suspensions: Colloid Science at the Next Decimal Place

Brian Leahy, Neil Lin, Itai Cohen

Index: 10.1016/j.cocis.2018.03.002

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Abstract

Since the days of Perrin [1], microscopy methods have played an important role in the study of colloidal suspensions. Along with the continued development of new imaging techniques, colloid scientists have also implemented a sophisticated range of computational analyses. These analysis techniques are often the unsung heroes that hold the promise of unlocking scientific mysteries at the next decimal place of colloid science. They now enable precision measurements of particle location and size [2, 3] as well as measurements of local stresses and forces [4]. Here, we spotlight these exciting advances focusing on the analysis of simple brightfield and confocal microscope images of dense colloidal suspensions as well as the scientific mysteries they may unravel.