Electro-osmotic diode based on colloidal nano-valves between double membranes

TL;DR

This paper introduces an electro-osmotic diode using colloidal particles between membranes with different pore densities, demonstrating diode-like flow rectification through simulations and a mathematical model, with potential microfluidic applications.

Contribution

The study presents a novel electro-osmotic diode design based on colloidal nano-valves and develops a mathematical model that accurately predicts its behavior, supported by molecular dynamics simulations.

Findings

Strong nonlinear electric current dependence on electric field.

Effective pore diameter model matches simulation results.

Potential for microfluidic pump applications under AC fields.

Abstract

The rectification of electro-osmotic flows is important in micro/nano fluidics applications such as micro-pumps and energy conversion devices. Here, we propose a simple electro-osmotic diode in which colloidal particles are contained between two parallel membranes with different pore densities. While the flow in the forward direction just pushes the colloidal particles toward the high-pore-density membrane, the backward flow is blocked by the particles near the low-pore-density membrane, which clog the pores. Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations show a strong nonlinear dependence on the electric field for both the electric current and electro-osmotic flow, indicating diode characteristics. A mathematical model to reproduce the electro-osmotic diode behavior is constructed, introducing an effective pore diameter as a model for pores clogged by the colloidal particles. Good agreement is obtained between the proposed model with estimated parameter values and the results of direct molecular dynamics simulations. The proposed electro-osmotic diode has potential application in downsized microfluidic pumps, e.g., the pump induced under AC electric fields.