Effect of an electric field on a floating lipid bilayer: a neutron reflectivity study

Abstract

We present here a neutron reflectivity study of the influence of an alternative electric field on a supported phospholipid double bilayer. We report for the first time a reproducible increase of the fluctuation amplitude leading to the complete unbinding of the floating bilayer. Results are in good agreement with a semi-quantitative interpretation in terms of negative electrostatic surface tension.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 1 table accepted for publication in European Physical Journal E Replaced with with correct bibliograph