Symmetry breaking in induced-charge electro-osmosis over polarizable spheroids

Abstract

We study the induced-charge electro-osmotic flow around a stationary polarizable dielectric spheroid in the presence of a uniform arbitrarily oriented external electric field. A Robin-type condition connecting the respective electric potentials within the dielectric solid and the bulk electro-neutral solution is highlighted in formulating the macroscale description for the limit of thin electric double layers and low potentials. The results illustrate symmetry breaking phenomena in the ensuing flow and demonstrate qualitative differences associated with variations of the dielectric constant. We briefly discuss the potential impact of these differences on the rotation of freely suspended spheroids.