Building on our recent work on induced-charge electro-osmosis (ICEO) and electrophoresis (ICEP), as well as the Russian literature on spherical metal colloids, we examine the rich consequences of broken geometric and field symmetries upon the ICEO flow around conducting bodies. Through a variety of paradigmatic examples involving ideally polarizable (e.g. metal) bodies with thin double layers in weak fields, we demonstrate that spatial asymmetry generally leads to a net pumping of fluid past the body by ICEO, or, in the case of a freely suspended colloidal particle, translation and/or rotation by ICEP. We have chosen model systems that are simple enough to admit analysis, yet which contain the most important broken symmetries. Specifically, we consider (i) symmetrically shaped bodies with inhomogeneous surface properties, (ii) ‘nearly symmetric’ shapes (using a boundary perturbation scheme), (iii) highly asymmetric bodies composed of two symmetric bodies tethered together, (iv) symmetric conductors in electric-field gradients, and (v) arbitrarily shaped conductors in general non-uniform fields in two dimensions (using complex analysis). In non-uniform fields, ICEO flow and ICEP motion exist in addition to the more familiar dielectrophoretic forces and torques on the bodies (which also vary with the square of the electric field). We treat all of these problems in two and three dimensions, so our study has relevence for both colloids and microfluidics. In the colloidal context, we describe principles to ‘design’ polarizable particles which rotate to orient themselves and translate steadily in a desired direction in a DC or AC electric field. We also describe ‘ICEO spinners’ that rotate continuously in AC fields of arbitrary direction, although we show that ‘near spheres’ with small helical perturbations do not rotate, to leading order in the shape perturbation. In the microfluidic context, strong and steady flows can be driven by small AC potentials applied to systems containing asymmetric structures, which holds promise for portable or implantable self-powered devices. These results build upon and generalize recent studies in AC electro-osmosis (ACEO). Unlike ACEO, however, the inducing surfaces in ICEO can be physically distinct from the driving electrodes, increasing the frequency range and geometries available.

http://absimage.aps.org/image/DFD05/MWS_DFD05-2005-001488.pdf

Breaking symmetries in induced-charge electro-osmosis and electrophoresis

Review on the physics of electrospray: From electrokinetics to the operating conditions of single and coaxial Taylor cone-jets, and AC electrospray

Field-directed colloidal assembly has shown remarkable recent progress in increasing the complexity, degree of control, and multiscale organization of the structures. This has largely been achieved by using particles of complex shapes and polarizabilites (Janus, patchy, shaped, and faceted). We review the fundamentals of the interactions leading to the directed assembly of such structures, the ways to simulate the dynamics of the process, and the effect of particle size, shape, and properties on the type of structure obtained. We discuss how directional polarization interactions induced by external electric and magnetic fields can be used to assemble complex particles or particle mixtures into lattices of tailored structure. Examples of such systems include isotropic and anisotropic shaped particles with surface patches, which form networks and crystals of unusual symmetry by dipolar, quadrupolar, and multipolar interactions in external fields. The emerging trends in making reconfigurable and dynamic stru...

Assembly of Reconfigurable Colloidal Structures by Multidirectional Field-Induced Interactions.

Despite the mounting interest in synthetic active particles, too little is known about their assembly into higher-order clusters. Here, mixing bare silica particles with Janus particles that are self-propelled in electric fields, we assemble rotating chiral clusters of various sorts, their structures consisting of active particles wrapped around central "hub" particles. These clusters self-assemble from the competition between standard energetic interactions and the need to be stable as the clusters rotate when the energy source is turned on, and fall apart when the energy input is off. This allows one to guide the formation of intended clusters, as the final structure depends notably on the sequence of steps in which the clusters form.

Directed Self‐Assembly Pathways of Active Colloidal Clusters

Position-controllable trapping of particles on the surface of a bipolar metal strip by induced-charge electroosmotic (ICEO) flow is presented herein. We demonstrate a nonlinear ICEO slip profile on the electrode surface accounting for stable particle trapping behaviors above the double-layer relaxation frequency, while no trapping occurs in the DC limit as a result of a strong upward fluidic drag induced by a linear ICEO slip profile. By extending an AC-flow field effect transistor from the DC limit to the AC field, we reveal that fixed-potential ICEO exceeding RC charging frequency can adjust the particle trapping position flexibly by generating controllable symmetry breaking in a vortex flow pattern. Our results open up new opportunities to manipulate microscopic objects in modern microfluidic systems by using ICEO.

Induced-charge electroosmotic trapping of particles

We present dielectrophoresis (DEP) and electrorotation (ROT) measurements of gold-coated polystyrene microspheres as a function of frequency and for several electrolyte conductivities. Particle rotation was counterfield with a maximum rotation rate observed at a single characteristic frequency. Negative DEP was observed for frequencies lower than this characteristic frequency and positive DEP for signal frequencies higher than this. These experimental observations are in agreement with predictions for the force and torque on the induced dipole of a perfectly polarizable metal sphere. We present a theoretical model for this case, and good agreement is found for both ROT and DEP measurements if we take into account the viscous friction for a spherical particle near a wall. From the characteristic frequency for rotation, we obtain the capacitance of the electrical double layer at the electrolyte-particle interface. Remarkably, no effect of induced charge electroosmosis around the particles can be inferred from DEP measurements.

Alternating current electrokinetic properties of gold-coated microspheres.

The physical mechanisms responsible for the electrical orientation and electrical rotation of metal nanowires suspended in an electrolyte as a function of frequency of the applied ac electric field are examined theoretically and experimentally. The alignment of a nanowire in an ac field with a fixed direction is called electro-orientation. The induced constant rotation of a nanowire in a rotating electric field is called electrorotation. In both situations, the applied electric field interacts with the induced charge in the electrical double layer at the metal-electrolyte interface, causing rotation due to the torque on the induced dipole, and also from induced-charge electro-osmotic flow around the particle. First, we describe the dipole theory that describes electro-orientation and electrorotation of perfectly polarizable metal rods. Second, based on a slender approximation, an analytical theory that describes induced-charge electro-orientation and electrorotation of metal nanowires is provided. Finally, experimental measurements of the electro-orientation and electrorotation of metal nanowires are presented and compared with theory, providing a comprehensive study of the relative importance between induced-dipole rotation and induced-charge electro-osmotic rotation.

Electro-orientation and electrorotation of metal nanowires

We describe the physical mechanism responsible for the rotation of Brownian metal nanowires suspended in an electrolyte exposed to a rotating electric field. The electric field interacts with the induced charge in the electrical double layer at the metal-electrolyte interface, causing rotation due to the torque on the induced dipole and to the induced-charge electro-osmotic flow around the particle. Experiments demonstrate that the primary driving mechanism is the former of these two. Our analysis contrasts with previous work describing the electrical manipulation of metallic particles with electric fields, which neglected the electrical double layer. Theoretical values for the rotation speed are calculated and good agreement with experiments is found.

Electric-field-induced rotation of Brownian metal nanowires

We describe the reversible assembly of an aqueous suspension of metal nanowires into two different 2-dimensional stable configurations. The assembly is induced by an AC electric field of magnitude around 10 kV/m. It is known that single metal nanowires orientate parallel to the electric field for all values of applied frequency, according to two different mechanisms depending on the frequency. These different mechanisms also govern the mutual interaction between nanowires, which leads to directed-assembly into distinctive structures, the shape of which depends on the frequency of the applied field. We show that for frequencies higher than the typical frequency for charging the electrical double layer at the metal-electrolyte interface, dipole-dipole interaction leads to the formation of chains of nanowires. For lower frequencies, the nanowires form wavy bands perpendicular to the electric field direction. This behavior appears to be driven by the electroosmotic flow induced on the metal surface of the nan...

/pdf/self-assembly-of-metal-nanowires-induced-by-alternating-3zpyzpqc2n.pdf

Self-assembly of metal nanowires induced by alternating current electric fields

Electrorotation (ROT) data for solid titanium micrometer-sized spheres in an electrolyte are presented for three different ionic conductivities, over the frequency range of 10 Hz to 100 kHz The direction of rotation was found to be opposite to the direction of rotation of the electric field vector (counterfield electrorotation), with a single rotation peak The maximum rotation rate occurs at a frequency of the order of the reciprocal RC time constant for charging the particle double layer capacitance through the resistor of the electrolyte bulk A model for the electrical torque acting on a metallic sphere is presented, using a constant phase element impedance to describe the metal/electrolyte interface The titanium spheres are much denser than the electrolyte and rest on the bottom substrate Therefore, the electrical and viscous torques near a wall are considered in the analysis Good agreement is found between the predicted and measured rotational speed as a function of frequency Theory shows that there is no effect of induced charge electroosmotic flow on the ROT, as observed experimentally

Juan J. Arcenegui

Papers

Alternating current electrokinetic properties of gold-coated microspheres.

Electro-orientation and electrorotation of metal nanowires

Electric-field-induced rotation of Brownian metal nanowires

Self-assembly of metal nanowires induced by alternating current electric fields

Electrorotation of titanium microspheres.