Enhanced Electroosmotic Flow Through a Nanochannel Patterned With Transverse Periodic Grooves

Abstract

In this paper, we have analyzed an enhanced electroosmotic flow (EOF) by geometric modulation of the surface of a charged nanochannel. Otherwise, flat walls of the channel are modulated by embedding rectangular grooves placed perpendicular to the direction of the applied electric field in a periodic manner. The modulated channel is filled with a single electrolyte. The EOF within the modulated channel is determined by computing the Navier–Stokes–Nernst–Planck–Poisson equations for a wide range of Debye length. The objective of the present study is to achieve an enhanced EOF in the surface modulated channel. A significant enhancement in average EOF is found for a particular arrangement of grooves with the width of the grooves much higher than its depth and the Debye length is in the order of the channel height. However, the formation of vortex inside the narrow grooves can reduce the EOF when the groove depth is in the order of its width. Results are compared with the cases in which the grooves are replaced by superhydrophobic patches along which a zero shear stress condition is imposed.