The electrophoretic motion of cylindrical macroions inside a nanochannel using molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract

This paper examines the electrophoretic motion of a cylindrical macroion floating in a solution of water and NaCl inside a silicon nanochannel using molecular dynamics simulation. The aim is to investigate the effects of parameters like free movement, initial orientation, shape, aspect ratio, surface charge density and initial electrical charge of macroion on the electrophoretic motion. Findings suggest that any increase in surface charge density could give a rise to electrophoretic velocity of the solution. Considering the macroion free to move around, initial orientation does not play significant role in final results. Results also imply that macroion’s velocity does not change steadily by variations in surface charge density which is because of the multilayer structure of the Stern layer. Finally, average electrophoretic velocity of the solution for all scenarios in this study is witnessed to be the same. However, maximum electrophoretic velocity could be four times greater than average values. This must be taken into account in applications with limited maximum velocity.