平行平板间电流变液非零压力梯度Couette流动的稳定性分析

采用Rajagopal和Wineman所提出本构方程,对电流变液在二维平行平板间非零压力梯度Couette流动的线性稳定性问题进行研究.通过分析和数值计算发现,任何壁面运动都将使流动稳定性增强.在外加电场存在的情况下,电流变液效应也将使流动稳定性增强.     

异质材料微流体通道电渗流热效应

本文对玻璃和聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)材料制作的微流控芯片电渗流焦耳热效应进行数值研究.采用双电层的Poisson-Boltzmann方程,液体运动的Navier-Stokes方程和液-固耦合系统的热传导方程研究二维微通道电渗流的温度特性.研究发现:由于材料属性的差别,温度场和速度场在微通道断面存在不均匀性.微通道表面的温升会降低双电层的电荷密度.热效应会对电渗流速度场产生影响,并诱导压强梯度和改变外电场在微通道的变化特征.     

两嵌段共聚高分子链通过薄膜上纳米孑孔隙输运的研究

针对两嵌段高分子链的跨膜输运过程,分别给出与不同输运次序相对戍的高分子链的自由能,进而通过求解Fokker-Planck方程并在不同条件下对平均首次通过时间进行了数值计算.计算结果表明,当共聚高分子链由良溶剂区向不良溶剂区输运时,不能发生线团一链滴转变的链首先输运总是有利于整个高分子链的输运.而在给定输运次序的情况下,化学势、线团一链滴转变、共聚链的组成以及输运速率等因素对输运时间可产生显著影响.相关研究结果可为调控实际生物高分子链的输运时间提供可能的理论线索.     

铂电极BZ反应系双电层稀疏区中的Turing结构

将扩散流作为场函数, 考虑φ电势的空间分布, 建立了铂电极BZ反应系在双电层稀疏区的动力学演化机制, 确立了纳入稀疏区φ电势效应的反应-扩散型演化方程. 采用Boltzmann分布近似, 解决了演化方程中含φ电势的流项的线性化问题; 导出了可在算法上实现的三变量体系线性化算子本征值的解析形式. 分别以静态铂电极BZ反应系双电层稀疏区和对应的纯粹BZ反应系作为参考模型系, 分析了经空间对称性破缺产生Turing结构的参数范围. 数值模拟发现, φ电场的存在使铂电极BZ反应系的输运过程在静态双电层稀疏区趋于电化学平衡时, 在对应的纯粹BZ反应体系中可呈现的Turing结构已趋于消失; 而在电流强度不太大的恒流不可逆铂电极BZ反应体系双电层稀疏区中, 鲜明稳定的Turing结构又重新出现在原参数区间内. 同时, 在静态双电层稀疏区不出现Turing结构的参数范围内也可找到类似的恒流稳定空间结构.     

电动势法对LiCl-MgCl2-H2O体系热力学性质的研究

用自制的锂离子选择电极和经典的Ag-AgCl电极, 以电动势法测定了25 ℃时离子强度为0.05—6.0 mol·kg~(-1)范围的LiCl-MgCl_2-H_2O三元体系中LiCl的平均活度系数. 由实验数据, 求出了Pitzer方程、Harned方程和Scatchard方程的参数和系数. 用上述方程计算了LiCl 在该体系中的活度系数, 并与实验值进行比较, 标准偏差小于0.008. 与等压法测定的渗透系数拟合的Pitzer方程参数计算值比较在实验误差范围内. 同时计算了MgCl_2在该体系中的平均活度系数和混合溶液的渗透系数.     

高分子链在微通道剪切流中的迁移机制及浓度的影响

提出了剪切流中高分子链在微通道内的迁移机制.该机制采用珠-簧链模型表示高分子链,高分子链受剪切作用而被拉伸,相邻珠子之间的流体力学相互作用产生了对称的扰动流场,由于在通道壁面附近对称的流场被破坏,壁面与高分子链间的流体力学相互作用使高分子远离壁面,在强受限时,这种壁面诱导的流体力学相互作用会被屏蔽掉.利用耗散粒子动力学数值模拟了高分子链在微通道压力流中的迁移行为.数值模拟结果表明,在受限较弱时,高分子链向远离壁面的方向迁移,并随着流场增强,远离壁面的趋势越强;在受限较强时,高分子链不会发生远离壁面的行为.实验研究了长链高分子λ-DNA在壁面附近的迁移行为,实验结果及模拟结果与迁移机制预测的结果相吻合,验证了迁移机制的正确性.高分子链浓度会影响高分子链的迁移行为,当高分子链浓度较大时,高分子链在通道宽度方向不会发生迁移现象,意味着随着浓度的增大,壁面与高分子链间的流体力学相互作用会逐渐被屏蔽.     

钠离子电池电极材料的设计策略——固态离子学视角

钠离子电池是目前最有前景及可行性的新兴储能候选体系。对于钠离子电池而言，如何实现其电极材料的理性设计及构筑，是重要的科学问题。本文立足于钠离子/电子输运这一核心问题，从固态离子学视角探讨钠离子电池电极材料的设计策略。首先，对于体相电极材料，输运特性的明晰、调控以及缺陷化学模型的建立，是传统电极材料开发的关键。其次，对于纳米电极材料，随着尺寸的减小，电极材料的热力学性质、动力学特性以及钠离子微观储输机制都会发生相应变化，因此从纳米离子学视角，以尺寸效应调控电极材料具有重要的科学价值及现实意义。最后，无论对于体相材料还是纳米材料，从材料的本征输运特性出发，通过电化学电路的设计和构筑来优化电极动力学，可以为钠电电极材料的理性设计及可控制备提供理论指导。我们相信，通过本文系统地对钠离子电池电极材料设计策略的梳理，必将对钠离子电池的开发，提供有意义的指导，并为最终的产业化打下良好的基础。     

电动势法对LiCl-Li~2SO~4-H~2O体系25℃热力学性质研究

用自制的锂离子选择电极和经典Ag-AgCl电极,测定25℃时LiCl-Li~2SO~4-H~2O三元体系中离子强度0.01～6.0mol.kg^-1的LiCl平均活度系数.,由实验数据,用多元线性回归法求取Pitzer方程、Harned方程的离子作用参数和系数,并用上述方程计算LiCl在混合溶液中的平均活度系数,分别以Inγ~±LiCl和logγ~±LiCl的形式与实验值进行比较,标准偏差均小于0.008.本工作测得的LiCl平均活度系数的自然对数与等压法测定的渗透系数拟合的Pitzer方程参数计算值比较,标准偏差为0.0097.同时计算了Li~2SO~4在该体系中的平均活度系数和混合溶液的渗透系数以及混合超额自由能.     

单分子电子器件电极-分子界面设计和调控

电极-分子接触界面在单分子器件中扮演着至关重要的作用.通过对电极、分子的锚定基团以及电极与分子间作用方式进行设计和调控,可以有效控制电极-分子界面结构和性质,从而影响单分子器件的性能和功能.本文从单分子器件研究的常用技术手段出发,综述单分子器件中常见的电极-分子接触界面类型及构建方式,并进一步阐述机械力、电化学及电场等...     

外电场作用下寡聚苯分子导线的性质

利用Hartree-Fock 方法在6-31G*水平上对聚苯分子进行了计算研究. 分别从几何构型、分子轨道空间分布和分子轨道能级三个方面讨论了外电场对寡聚苯分子导线的影响, 给出了分子导线的性质与外电场的关系. 进一步, 连接硫原子于聚苯分子的两端, 并共价结合在金电极上. 利用非平衡格林函数方法对其在0-2.0 V 偏压下电子输运特征进行了深入研究.     

Comparison of the Nernst-Planck model and the Poisson-Boltzmann model for electroosmotic flows in microchannels

In the analysis of electroosmotic flows, the internal electric potential is usually modeled by the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The Poisson-Boltzmann equation is derived from the assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium where the ionic distributions are not affected by fluid flows. Although this is a reasonable assumption for steady electroosmotic flows through straight microchannels, there are some important cases where convective transport of ions has nontrivial effects. In these cases, it is necessary to adopt the Nernst-Planck equation instead of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation to model the internal electric field. In the present work, the predictions of the Nernst-Planck equation are compared with those of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for electroosmotic flows in various microchannels where the convective transport of ions is not negligible.     

Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity for viscoelastic electroosmotic flows

Many biofluids such as blood and DNA solutions are viscoelastic and exhibit extraordinary flow behaviors, not existing in Newtonian fluids. Adopting appropriate constitutive equations these exotic flow behaviors can be modeled and predicted reasonably using various numerical methods. However, the governing equations for viscoelastic flows are not easily solvable, especially for electroosmotic flows where the streamwise velocity varies rapidly from zero at the wall to a nearly uniform velocity at the outside of the very thin electric double layer. In the present investigation, we have devised a simple method to find the volumetric flow rate of viscoelastic electroosmotic flows through microchannels. It is based on the concept of the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity which is widely adopted in the electroosmotic flows of Newtonian fluids. It is shown that the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity for viscoelastic fluids can be found by solving a simple cubic algebraic equation. The volumetric flow rate obtained using this Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity is found to be almost the same as that obtained by solving the governing partial differential equations for various viscoelastic fluids.     

Frequency-dependent laminar electroosmotic flow in a closed-end rectangular microchannel

This article presents an analysis of the frequency- and time-dependent electroosmotic flow in a closed-end rectangular microchannel. An exact solution to the modified Navier-Stokes equation governing the ac electroosmotic flow field is obtained by using the Green's function formulation in combination with a complex variable approach. An analytical expression for the induced backpressure gradient is derived. With the Debye-Hückel approximation, the electrical double-layer potential distribution in the channel is obtained by analytically solving the linearized two-dimensional Poisson-Boltzmann equation. Since the counterparts of the flow rate and the electrical current are shown to be linearly proportional to the applied electric field and the pressure gradient, Onsager's principle of reciprocity is demonstrated for transient and ac electroosmotic flows. The time evolution of the electroosmotic flow and the effect of a frequency-dependent ac electric field on the oscillating electroosmotic flow in a closed-end rectangular microchannel are examined. Specifically, the induced pressure gradient is analyzed under effects of the channel dimension and the frequency of electric field. In addition, based on the Stokes second problem, the solution of the slip velocity approximation is presented for comparison with the results obtained from the analytical scheme developed in this study.     

Liquid transport in rectangular microchannels by electroosmotic pumping

The characteristics of electroosmotic flow in rectangular microchannels were investigated in this paper. A 2D Poisson–Boltzmann equation and the 2D momentum equation were used to model the electric double layer field and the flow field. The numerical solutions show significant influences of the channel cross-section geometry (i.e. the aspect ratio) on the velocity field and the volumetric flow rate. Also, the numerical simulation of the electroosmotic flow reveals how the velocity field and the volumetric flow rate depend on the ionic concentration, zeta potential, channel size and the applied electrical field strength.     

Electroosmotic flow in microchannels with arbitrary geometry and arbitrary distribution of wall charge

General solutions are developed for direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) electroosmotic flows in microfluidic channels with arbitrary cross-sectional geometry and arbitrary distribution of wall charge (zeta potential). The applied AC electric field can also be of arbitrary waveform. By proposing a nondimensional time scale varpi defined as the ratio of the diffusion time of momentum across the electric double-layer thickness to the period of the applied electric field, we demonstrate analytically that the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski electroosmotic velocity is an appropriate slip condition for AC electroosmotic flows in typical microfluidic applications. With this slip condition approach, electroosmotic flows in rectangular and asymmetric trapezoidal microchannels with nonuniform wall charge, as examples, are investigated. The unknown constants in the proposed general solutions are numerically determined with a least-squares method through matching the boundary conditions. We find that the wall charge affects significantly the electroosmotic flow while the channel geometry does not. Moreover, the flow feature is characterized by another nondimensional time scale Omega defined as the ratio of the diffusion time of momentum across the channel hydraulic radius to the period of the applied electric field. The onset of phase shift between AC electroosmotic velocity and applied electric field is also examined analytically.     

Comments on the conditions for similitude in electroosmotic flows

This note provides a few comments on the conditions required for similitude between velocity and electric field in electroosmotic flows. The velocity fields of certain electroosmotic flows with relatively thin electric double layers (EDLs) are known to be irrotational in regions outside of the EDL. Under restricted conditions, the velocity field, V , can be expressed in terms of the electric field, E , as V =cE , where c is a scalar constant. The irrotationality solution is certainly unique and exact for Stokes flow, but may not be stable (or unique) for flows with Reynolds numbers significantly greater than unity.     

Remotely powered distributed microfluidic pumps and mixers based on miniature diodes

We demonstrate new principles of microfluidic pumping and mixing by electronic components integrated into a microfluidic chip. The miniature diodes embedded into the microchannel walls rectify the voltage induced between their electrodes from an external alternating electric field. The resulting electroosmotic flows, developed in the vicinity of the diode surfaces, were utilized for pumping or mixing of the fluid in the microfluidic channel. The flow velocity of liquid pumped by the diodes facing in the same direction linearly increased with the magnitude of the applied voltage and the pumping direction could be controlled by the pH of the solutions. The transverse flow driven by the localized electroosmotic flux between diodes oriented oppositely on the microchannel was used in microfluidic mixers. The experimental results were interpreted by numerical simulations of the electrohydrodynamic flows. The techniques may be used in novel actively controlled microfluidic-electronic chips.     

Electroosmotic pumping in microchips with nonhomogeneous distribution of electrolytes

A general equation to calculate the node pressure at a junction in a microfluidic network is presented. The node pressure is generated from both the hydrodynamic flow due to the external applied hydraulic pressures and the electrokinetic flow resulted from the applied electric field. Pure electroosmotic flow has a plug-flow profile and pressure flow has a parabolic flow profile. In a first order approximation, these two flows can be treated separately, and the total flow is the sum of the two. An externally applied pressure simply creates a constant offset in the node pressure as long as the flow resistances remain the same. In a nonhomogeneous microfluidic network, where the electrical resistivity or the electroosmotic mobility is not constant everywhere, the differences in electroosmotic flow in various sections of the network will create an electroosmotically induced pressure at the internal nodes. Our theoretical approach can easily be extended to networks with more than one internal node. One prediction of this theory is that any variation in electroosmotic mobility or solution resistivity in different network branches will generate a pressure, and can thus be used as a pump. As an example, we demonstrate electroosmotic pumping in a high-low buffer system.     

Effect of viscoelasticity on the flow pattern and the volumetric flow rate in electroosmotic flows through a microchannel

Many lab-on-a-chip based microsystems process biofluids such as blood and DNA solutions. These fluids are viscoelastic and show extraordinary flow behaviors, not existing in Newtonian fluids. Adopting appropriate constitutive equations these exotic flow behaviors can be modeled and predicted reasonably using various numerical methods. In the present paper, we investigate viscoelastic electroosmotic flows through a rectangular straight microchannel with and without pressure gradient. It is shown that the volumetric flow rates of viscoelastic fluids are significantly different from those of Newtonian fluids under the same external electric field and pressure gradient. Moreover, when pressure gradient is imposed on the microchannel there appear appreciable secondary flows in the viscoelastic fluids, which is never possible for Newtonian laminar flows through straight microchannels. The retarded or enhanced volumetric flow rates and secondary flows affect dispersion of solutes in the microchannel nontrivially.