Induced-charge electrophoretic motion of ideally polarizable particles

The induced-charge electrophoretic (ICEP) motion of ideally polarizable particles is numerically studied in this paper. A complete three-dimensional multi-physics model is set up to simulate the transient ICEP motion of ideally polarizable, spherical particles in an unbounded liquid. The study shows the nonlinear induced zeta potential on the particle's surface causing a varying slipping (electroosmotic flow) velocity along the particle's surface, and hence producing microvortexes in the liquid. ICEP particle–particle interactions are also studied. The simulations show that a low pressure zone between the two polarizable conducting particles will be induced if the external electric field is applied parallel along the imaginary line connecting the two particles, resulting in an attracting effect between the two particles. Oppositely, a high pressure zone is induced between the two particles if the applied field is perpendicular to the imaginary line connecting the two particles, giving a repelling effect. The ICEP attracting or repelling effects depend on the particles’ separation distance, the electric field strength and the particle size.