Qiao R., Aluru N.R.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, US
Keywords: electroosmotic flow, molecular dynamics simulation, nano-channel, transient analysis
Transient analysis of electroosmotic flow in a nano-diameter channel is presented. The time for flow to reach steady state in a nano-diameter channel for various Debye lengths is investigated by solving the Navier-Stokes equations in the presence of electrical forces. The results indicate that the time for flow to reach steady state depends on the interaction of Debye layers. Preliminary results on molecular dynamics simulation of electroosmotic flow are also presented. A comparison between continuum theory results and molecular dynamics simulation results indicates that for a 5 nm channel, continuum theory based on the Poisson-Boltzmann equation can overestimate the ion density near the channel wall, but agrees fairly well in the rest of the channel region. The velocity profile obtained from the continuum model agrees qualitatively with the molecular dynamics simulation result.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Technical Proceedings of the 2002 International Conference on Computational Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Published: April 22, 2002
Pages: 89 - 92
Industry sector: Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Micro & Bio Fluidics, Lab-on-Chip
ISBN: 0-9708275-6-3