Dynamic aspects of electroosmotic flow in a cylindrical microcapillary

Dynamic aspects of the electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a cylindrical capillary are analysed. An analytical solution for electrostatic potential of the double layer has been derived by solving the complete Poisson-Boltzmann equation for arbitrary zeta-potentials under an analytical scheme. Transient EOF field in response to the application of time dependent electric field is obtained analytically by using Green's function method. Specifically, sinusoidally alternating (AC) electric fields are used to study the effect of frequency-dependent oscillation on the EOF. Limiting cases of zero frequency and pulsed electric field are also discussed. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.