Electro-osmotic flow in microchannels

Abstract

In the current study, the modified Navier—Stokes equations together with the Poisson—Boltzmann and Laplace equations have been used to numerically model electro-osmotic flow (EOF) in straight microchannels. Flow experiments have been carried out using microchannels etched into silicon wafer surfaces. The numerical results from the present study have been compared against experimental data and an analytical solution. The results indicate that the numerical simulations are an accurate representation of EOF and that this model could be used as a tool in the design and analysis of complex EOF driven systems.