Viscoelectric and Steric Effects on Electroosmotic Flow in a Soft Channel

The present work analyzes the combined viscoelectric and steric effects on electroosmotic flow in a soft channel with polyelectrolyte coating. The structured channel surface, which controls the electric potential, creates two different flow regions: the electrolyte flow within the permeable polyelectrolyte layer (PEL) and the bulk electrolyte. Thus, this study discusses the interaction of various electrostatic effects to predict the electroosmotic flow field. The nonlinear governing equations describing the fluid flow are the modified Poisson–Boltzmann equation for the electric potential distribution, the mass conservation equation, and the modified Navier–Stokes equations for the flow field, which are solved numerically using a one-dimensional (1D) scheme. The results indicate that the flow enhances when increasing the electric potential magnitude across the channel cross-section via the rise in different dimensionless parameters, such as the PEL thickness, the steric factor, and the ratio of the electrokinetic parameter of the PEL to that of the electrolyte layer. This research demonstrates that the PEL significantly enhances control over electroosmotic flow. However, it is crucial to consider that viscoelectric effects at high electric fields and the friction generated by the grafted polymer brushes of the PEL can reduce these benefits.