Tunable critical Casimir forces counteract Casimir–Lifshitz attraction

Abstract In developing micro- and nanodevices, stiction between their parts, that is, static friction preventing surfaces in contact from moving, is a well-known problem. It caused by the finite-temperature analogue of quantum electrodynamical Casimir–Lifshitz forces, which are normally attractive. Repulsive forces have been realized experimentally, but reliance on specialized materials severely limits applicability prevents dynamic control. Here we demonstrate repulsive critical Casimir emerge binary liquid mixture upon approaching temperature, can be used to counteract due actively control microscopic nanoscopic objects with nanometre precision. Our experiment conducted gold flake suspended above flat gold-coated substrate immersed mixture. This may stimulate development nanodevices as well providing active precise tunability acting constituent parts.