Abstract
A colloidal fluid is found to rotate spontaneously during electrolysis when gravity acts perpendicular to the direction of an applied electric field. An aqueous dispersion containing charged colloidal particles is placed inside an O-ring sandwiched between two parallel ITO electrodes. A clip is used to hold the assembly together to prevent the liquid from leaking out. The assembly is positioned such that the electrodes stand vertically, i.e., the electric field during electrolysis points perpendicular to gravity. When a direct-current voltage is applied to initiate the electrolysis of water, a nonlinear colloidal pattern is formed by electroconvective flow. Moreover, the entire fluid rotates spontaneously about the O-ring center with a constant angular velocity. The rotational dynamics are governed by how strong and where the assembly is clipped relative to the gravitational direction. A new phenomenological relationship between the angular velocity, compression vector, and gravity is derived. Coupling of an electrochemical reduction reaction of the ITO film with electroconvection during electrolysis is proposed as a mechanism for the rotational motion.
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