Near-contact electrophoretic particle motion

The near-contact axisymmetric electrophoretic motion of a pair of spherical particles with thin electric double layers and differing surface zeta-potentials is analysed for low Reynolds numbers and moderate surface potentials. Near-contact electrophoretic motion of a spherical particle normal to a planar conducting boundary is analysed under the same assumptions. Pairwise motion is computed by considering touching particles in point contact; relative motion is described by a perturbation about the touching state using lubrication theory. Analytical formulae are derived for two particles of disparate sizes, and for the motion of a single particle towards a boundary; numerical calculations are performed for all size ratios. The results have a universal form with respect to the particle zeta-potentials. All results indicate that the electrophoresis is a much more efficient mechanism of near-contact motion than is buoyancy. An explanation for this finding is given in terms of the electro-osmotic slip velocity on the particle surfaces that facilitates fluid removal from between approaching surfaces.