Transport-Induced-Charge Electroosmosis

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of transport-induced-charge electroosmosis (TICEO) in nanopores, highlighting its potential for AC nanopore applications without the need for metallic patches, unlike classical ICEO.

Contribution

The study introduces TICEO as a new electroosmotic mechanism in nanopores, expanding the scope of electrokinetic phenomena applicable to nanopore technologies.

Findings

TICEO velocity scales with the square of applied voltage.

TICEO does not require metallic or dielectric patches.

Potential for AC nanopore pumping applications.

Abstract

We report theoretical analysis of transport-induced-charge electroosmosis (TICEO) in a nanopore due to the presence of a local electric field and a conductivity gradient. TICEO shares a similar characteristic with classical induced-charge electroosmosis (ICEO) that the mean velocity $\overline{v_\text{TIC}}$ is proportional to the square of the applied electric potential difference $\Delta\psi$, $i.e.$, $\overline{v_\text{TIC}} \propto (\Delta\psi)^2$, appropriate for alternating current (AC) pumping applications. In contrast to ICEO which is primarily used in microfluidics, TICEO does not require metallic or dielectric patches and is thus suitable for nanopore pumping, providing new opportunities for AC nanopore applications.