Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns
We develop a hydrodynamic description of self-generated electrolyte flow in capillaries whose bounding walls feature both nonuniform distributions of charge and nonuniform active ionic fluxes. The hydrodynamic velocity arising in such a system has components that are forbidden by symmetry in the abs...
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American Physical Society
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Physical Review Research |
| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023223 |
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| author | Ahis Shrestha Eleftherios Kirkinis Monica Olvera de la Cruz |
| author_facet | Ahis Shrestha Eleftherios Kirkinis Monica Olvera de la Cruz |
| author_sort | Ahis Shrestha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We develop a hydrodynamic description of self-generated electrolyte flow in capillaries whose bounding walls feature both nonuniform distributions of charge and nonuniform active ionic fluxes. The hydrodynamic velocity arising in such a system has components that are forbidden by symmetry in the absence of charge and fluxes. However, when these two boundary mechanisms are simultaneously present, they can lead to a symmetry broken state where steady flows with both unidirectional and circulatory components emerge. We show that these flow states arise when modulated boundary patterns of charge and fluxes are offset by a flux-charge phase difference, which is associated with the separation between sites of their peak densities on the wall. Mismatch in diffusivity of cationic and anionic species can modify the flow states and becomes an enhancing factor when fluxes of both ion species are being produced together at the same site. We demonstrate that this mechanism can be realized with a microfluidic generator that is powered by enzyme-coated patches that catalyze reactants in the solution to produce fluxes of ions. The local ionic elevation or depletion, which disrupts a nonuniform double layer, promotes self-induced gradients yielding persistent body forces to generate bulk fluid motion. Our work quantifies a boundary-driven mechanism behind self-sustained electrolyte flow in confined environments that exists without any external bulk-imposed fields or gradients. It provides a theoretical framework for understanding the combined effect of active and charged boundaries that are relevant in biological or soft matter systems, and can be utilized in electrofluidic and iontronic applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0cda43752dc4434e9c65ff5166bb6ae4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2643-1564 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Physical Review Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-0cda43752dc4434e9c65ff5166bb6ae42025-08-20T02:05:24ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642025-06-017202322310.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023223Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patternsAhis ShresthaEleftherios KirkinisMonica Olvera de la CruzWe develop a hydrodynamic description of self-generated electrolyte flow in capillaries whose bounding walls feature both nonuniform distributions of charge and nonuniform active ionic fluxes. The hydrodynamic velocity arising in such a system has components that are forbidden by symmetry in the absence of charge and fluxes. However, when these two boundary mechanisms are simultaneously present, they can lead to a symmetry broken state where steady flows with both unidirectional and circulatory components emerge. We show that these flow states arise when modulated boundary patterns of charge and fluxes are offset by a flux-charge phase difference, which is associated with the separation between sites of their peak densities on the wall. Mismatch in diffusivity of cationic and anionic species can modify the flow states and becomes an enhancing factor when fluxes of both ion species are being produced together at the same site. We demonstrate that this mechanism can be realized with a microfluidic generator that is powered by enzyme-coated patches that catalyze reactants in the solution to produce fluxes of ions. The local ionic elevation or depletion, which disrupts a nonuniform double layer, promotes self-induced gradients yielding persistent body forces to generate bulk fluid motion. Our work quantifies a boundary-driven mechanism behind self-sustained electrolyte flow in confined environments that exists without any external bulk-imposed fields or gradients. It provides a theoretical framework for understanding the combined effect of active and charged boundaries that are relevant in biological or soft matter systems, and can be utilized in electrofluidic and iontronic applications.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023223 |
| spellingShingle | Ahis Shrestha Eleftherios Kirkinis Monica Olvera de la Cruz Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns Physical Review Research |
| title | Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns |
| title_full | Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns |
| title_fullStr | Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns |
| title_short | Self-generated electrokinetic flows from active-charged boundary patterns |
| title_sort | self generated electrokinetic flows from active charged boundary patterns |
| url | http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.023223 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ahisshrestha selfgeneratedelectrokineticflowsfromactivechargedboundarypatterns AT eleftherioskirkinis selfgeneratedelectrokineticflowsfromactivechargedboundarypatterns AT monicaolveradelacruz selfgeneratedelectrokineticflowsfromactivechargedboundarypatterns |