Abstract

Thermophoresis is the migration of dispersed molecules or particles in an inhomogeneous temperature field. It has been associated with various nonequilibrium phenomena ranging from stratified oil reservoirs to prebiotic evolution and the origin of life. The thermophoretic velocity is difficult to predict and appears almost random. We show that, in the case of strongly asymmetric mixtures with high molecular mass ratios of the solute to the solvent, it unexpectedly assumes a universal value once the trivial influence of the viscosity has been factored out. This asymptotic behavior is surprisingly universal and a general property of many highly asymmetric molecular mixtures ranging from organic molecules in n-alkanes to dilute solutions of high polymers. A quantitative explanation is provided on the basis of the asymmetric limit of the pseudoisotopic Soret effect.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.