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 fi...

We have developed a method for measuring the electrophoretic mobility of submicrometer, fluorescently labeled particles and the electroosmotic mobility of a microchannel. We derive explicit expressions for the unknown electrophoretic and the electroosmotic mobilities as a function of particle displacements resulting from alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) applied electric fields. ...

The field of soft robots would benefit from electrically controlled contractile actuators in the form of fibers that achieve a strain of 20% in less than a second while exerting high force. This work explores possible designs for achieving this goal using self-contained electroosmotic fluid pumping within a tube-shaped structure. The most promising configuration is a combination of a bellows an...

This paper reports on a rapid new method for in-situ sol-gel deposition of silica layers in PDMS microchannels. A two-step process is used; first allowing TEOS to diffuse briefly into the channel, followed by acid catalysed hydrolysis and condensation. The silica coating results in an increased and stabilised electroosmotic flow. With this novel method there is no need for pretreatment of the m...

Electroosmotic (EO) micropumps use field-induced ion drag to drive liquids and achieve high pressures in a compact design with no moving parts. An analytical model applicable to planar, etched-structure micropumps has been developed. This model consists of pressure and flow relations in addition to an analytical expression that can be used to estimate the thermodynamic efficiency of planar EO p...