Colloidal suspensions in confined geometries

In the presence of geometric confinements such as topographically patterned surfaces, strong light fields, or channels the phase behavior and the dynamical properties of colloidal suspensions are strongly modified in comparison to the bulk properties. Because such geometric confinements play an important role in many physical, biological and chemical processes, investigations of the properties of colloidal suspensions in such situations may help to obtain a better understanding of, e.g. transport of particles through cell membranes or catalytic reactions in zeolitic materials. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.