Streaming electric field, electroviscous effect, and electrokinetic liquid flows in the induced pressure-driven transport of active liquids in narrow capillaries.

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a theory for studying the electrokinetic effects in a charged nanocapillary filled with active liquid. The active particles present within the active liquid are self-driven, demonstrate vortex defects, and enforce a circumferentially arranged polarization field. Under such circumstances, there is the development of an induced pressure-gradient-driven transport dictated (similar to diffusioosmotic transport) by the presence of an axial gradient in the activity (or the concentration of the active particles). This pressure-driven transport has a profile different from the standard Hagen-Poiseuille flow in a nanocapillary. Also, this induced pressure-driven flow drives electrokinetic effects, which are characterized by the generation of a streaming electric field, associated electroosmotic (EOS) transport opposing pressure-driven flow, and electroviscous effect. We quantify these effects as functions of dimensionless parameters that vary inversely as the strength of the activity-induced pressure-driven flow and salt concentrations. Overall, we anticipate that this paper will draw immense attention toward a new type of activity-induced pressure-driven flow and associated electrokinetic phenomena in charged nanoconfinements.