Thermophoresis: moving particles with thermal gradients

TLDR: Thermophoresis is particle motion induced by thermal gradients as discussed by the authors, and it is both experimentally and theoretically a challenging subject, and new insights stemming from careful experimental surveys and strict theoretical models have however shed light on the underlying physical mechanisms, enabling depiction of thermophoreis as a subtle interfacial effect.

Abstract: Thermophoresis is particle motion induced by thermal gradients. Akin to other nonequilibrium transport processes such as thermal diffusion in fluid mixtures, it is both experimentally and theoretically a challenging subject. New insights stemming from careful experimental surveys and strict theoretical models have however shed light on the underlying physical mechanisms, enabling depiction of thermophoresis as a subtle interfacial effect. These recent advancements open up alluring perspectives to exploit thermophoresis as a novel tool in macromolecular fractionation, microfluidic manipulation, and selective tuning of colloidal structures.