Surface Forces: Electrostatic & Van der Waals Interactions

This lecture covers the fundamental surface forces in micro and nanosystems, focusing on electrostatic adhesion forces due to charges on surfaces and van der Waals forces arising from induced dipole interactions. It discusses the classical Coulomb attraction between charged particles, the importance of high surface charges for electrostatic image forces, and the Lennard-Jones energy potential for van der Waals interactions. The presentation also explores the adhesion mechanisms of geckos to surfaces, the role of capillary forces, and methods to measure and prevent stiction in microsystems.