Joule heating and dielectric gradient effects on colloidal particle electrophoresis

Abstract

The following paper discusses the combined action of dielectric gradients and Joule heating effects to the electrophoresis of colloids in micro fluidics. Study introduces a new and useful CFD model that represents the combination of the Joule heating and dielectrophoresis phenomenon to expose the opposite particle dynamics in microchannels when the electric field is applied. The influence of the temperature gradients on the equivalent representation of the electrokinetic forces as well as the particles mobility is included by taking into consideration the temperature-dependent fluid viscosity and dielectric permittivity. These outcomes prove the fact that Joule heating can substantially change the particle velocity by changing the physical parameters of the fluid used, whereas dielectric gradients also bring new dielectrophoretic forces which can impact on the movement of the particles. This is a combined way of outlook to optimize the microfluidic platforms of biomolecule separation and nanoparticle control application. The article is particularly significant when it says that the development of advanced microfluidic devices should not ignore the effect of thermal and electrokinetics.