Viscoelectric and Steric Effects on Electroosmotic Flow in a Soft Channel

Edson M. Jimenez, Clara G. Hernández, David A. Torres, Nicolas Ratkovich, Juan P. Escandón (), Juan R. Gómez and René O. Vargas
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Edson M. Jimenez: Departamento de Termofluidos, SEPI-ESIME Unidad Azcapotzalco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 02250, Mexico
Clara G. Hernández: Departamento de Termofluidos, SEPI-ESIME Unidad Azcapotzalco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 02250, Mexico
David A. Torres: Programa Educativo de Química, Universidad Tecnológica de Tula-Tepeji, Tula de Allende, Hidalgo 42830, Mexico
Nicolas Ratkovich: Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 111711, Colombia
Juan P. Escandón: Departamento de Termofluidos, SEPI-ESIME Unidad Azcapotzalco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 02250, Mexico
Juan R. Gómez: Departamento de Termofluidos, SEPI-ESIME Unidad Azcapotzalco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 02250, Mexico
René O. Vargas: Departamento de Termofluidos, SEPI-ESIME Unidad Azcapotzalco, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 02250, Mexico

Mathematics, 2025, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-25

Abstract: The present work analyzes the combined viscoelectric and steric effects on electroosmotic flow in a soft channel with polyelectrolyte coating. The structured channel surface, which controls the electric potential, creates two different flow regions: the electrolyte flow within the permeable polyelectrolyte layer (PEL) and the bulk electrolyte. Thus, this study discusses the interaction of various electrostatic effects to predict the electroosmotic flow field. The nonlinear governing equations describing the fluid flow are the modified Poisson–Boltzmann equation for the electric potential distribution, the mass conservation equation, and the modified Navier–Stokes equations for the flow field, which are solved numerically using a one-dimensional (1D) scheme. The results indicate that the flow enhances when increasing the electric potential magnitude across the channel cross-section via the rise in different dimensionless parameters, such as the PEL thickness, the steric factor, and the ratio of the electrokinetic parameter of the PEL to that of the electrolyte layer. This research demonstrates that the PEL significantly enhances control over electroosmotic flow. However, it is crucial to consider that viscoelectric effects at high electric fields and the friction generated by the grafted polymer brushes of the PEL can reduce these benefits.

Keywords: electroosmotic flow; soft channels; viscoelectric effect; steric effect; polyelectrolyte layer; high potentials; nonlinear governing equations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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