Amplification of the Electroosmotic Flow on Superhydrophobic Surfaces (C05)

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 265191195

Electroosmotic Flow (EOF) enables fluids to be pumped along a surface or in a channel and finds applications in microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technology. Theoretical results indicate that this flow can be enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude when specific configurations of the electrodes and superhydrophobic surfaces are employed, compared to smooth surfaces. This would enable a whole new spectrum of applications. Using the insights from other subprojects and their wetting characterization, the project intends to experimentally investigate the flow enhancement using these EOF configurations, and then to address the question of optimal design.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1194: Interaction between Transport and Wetting Processes
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Darmstadt
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Steffen Hardt